A large army of destructive insects invaded the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania in the United States, warning of its potential impact on agriculture, as it is the deadliest type of insect that has attacked the country in 150 years.
Authorities in Winchester, Va., Warned that invasive insects, originating in China, India and Vietnam, would damage crops and the wood industry.
The Cerville Phil Center for Medicine in Pennsylvania said the exotic creatures, dubbed the "Spotted Lantern," were first seen last Thursday, Fox News reported on Sunday.
The center said on its Facebook page that these insects threaten the forests of the northeast, in addition to the manufacture of wood and agricultural crops, especially grapes, warning citizens of the seriousness.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, when these insects were first discovered in the state last February, said the pest could be troublesome to homeowners when they accumulate in large numbers.
Also in February, Pennsylvania confirmed that it was cooperating with the country's agriculture ministry to "tackle what could be the most destructive type of insect in 150 years."
Although it is unknown how dangerous the "spotted lantern" is to humans, it is a cause of concern before the holiday season, as the insect may lay its eggs on Christmas trees that can be hatched indoors.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has asked citizens to remove the eggs if they see them on the trees, an egg with a gray mud-like covering that turns over time to become dry.
