An invasive Asian insect, the spotted lanternfly, is invading the Pittsburgh area at skyrocketing rates.
The Department of Agriculture's advice for anyone who sees a spotted lanternfly: Report it and kill it.
In the past year, reports of the lanternfly are up more than 1,700 percent in Allegheny County, 351 percent in Westmoreland County and 177 percent in Butler County.
The bug feeds on fruit, ornamental and woody plants and can weaken trees and kill grape vines.
Travelers unwittingly bring them here and the spotted lanternflies then lay big batches of eggs.
Pittsburgh has the greatest number of lanternfly reports with almost 2,800.
Rounding out the top five are Bellevue, West Mifflin, Avalon, and Monroeville with between 250 and 75 reports each.
