Inside the race to kill an invasive menace—before it gets to a town near you
Scientists are experimenting with new ways to kill the spotted lanternfly, a worrisome threat to plants such as wine grapes and beer hops.
PittsburghIt’s a cool, drizzly Sunday morning, but that hasn’t stopped more than 66,000 fans from showing up to see the Steelers take on the New York Jets. At the stadium entrance, the smell of charcoal briquettes fill the air, while portable speakers blast music from innumerable tailgate parties.
Nearly everyone is wearing black and gold to support the home team—even the entomologist currently scraping putty-like egg masses off a maple tree on a street just outside the stadium.
“Ma’am, that bag is not going to be allowed to go in,” barks a blue-jacketed security official.
“Oh, I’m not going in, I’m just looking at the tree,” laughs Michelle Duennes, an associate professor of biology at Saint Vincent College in southwestern Pennsylvania.
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