In New York City, a resurgence of spotted lanternflies is anticipated following a significant drop in their population last year. Kelli Hoover from Penn State noted an alarming increase in egg masses, with reports of approximately 1,700 per row in Berks County, PA. The insects entered their hatching phase earlier than expected, likely due to warmer urban temperatures. Their population fluctuates due to food scarcity caused by overconsumption of the Tree of Heaven, their primary food source, creating what experts describe as "boom and bust cycles." New Yorkers should prepare for a possible infestation as a result.
"It was almost nothing and then - boom - now they're back in big numbers," Hoover said. "It's a huge increase."
"It's like everybody getting to the salad at the same time," Leeser said. "As the availability of food starts to fall, the population does too."
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