I spotted a bug

Bugs keep dropping by as I sit outside reading. I’ve never seen these bugs before, but this autumn I’m seeing a few each day. They have light brown wings with black spots, and a splash of red beneath the outer wings. If I’d seen these insects before I’d know because I find them disgusting. Why? I don’t know. Ladybugs are cute. These things make my skin crawl.

I looked them up with Google Lens, and apparently they’re an invasive species called spotted lanternfly. They originate from China and Vietnam, have spread into Japan and South Korea, and only arrived in the US in 2014 as eggs stuck to a shipment of stone. The lanternflies themselves don’t move far during their lives, but their eggs travel through human transportation systems. They’re now established here in Ohio, so I suppose I’ll be seeing more of them going forward.