A Naif in the Forest by Darrell Berger

Wing Tips to Hiking Boots: Musings of a New, Full-Time Poconos Resident

“Is that a spotted lantern fly?” Kathleen asked a few weeks ago. She was referring to an invasive species that has been seen as nearby as Berks County. It destroys grape, fruit tree and logging harvests. It is not a true fly, but a planthopper, using its wings only to strengthen its jumps. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requests sightings be reported. This would have been their first appearance in Pike County and reason for alarm. 

“No,” I said. A friend in Berks County had posted photos of the spotted lantern fly. I knew this bug, though sporting a big spot, was not. Therefore, I did not kill it. 

Later I searched on line to identify this orange flying bug with pretty, dark blue and yellow-orange coloring, a big spot, and very long antennae. I failed.  My descriptions were too general. I had overlooked its most identifying feature. 

Richard Patterson, my friend and expert in the forest, immediately recognized it as a net-winged beetle, named for the ruffles and ridges on its wings. This name covers a large number of beetles of considerable variation.  All they have in common is their wing texture. One looks like a very small ear of corn.  

The net-winged beetle is like a big firefly with no lights. It has no stinger, is slow in flight, eats moderately and harmlessly, is not invasive and protects itself only by expanding its wings and tasting terrible. I’m glad I knew enough not to kill it. 

Suppose, however, I knew only that bugs with a spot or spots might be heading our way to be destructive, but didn’t know what they looked like? With a little paranoia, poor impulse control and excessive confidence in my ability to do the right thing without good information, I might have killed it. 

That would have been bad for the beetle and bad for the forest, which needs diversity. I too, would have been harmed. I would have taken one step closer to trusting fear rather than facts, not a good strategy for any species’ survival.