PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Last summer, Pittsburgh was crawling with thousands upon thousands of Spotted Lanternflies. By covering cars, eating gardens, and swarming around houses, the invasive insects antagonized every simple summer enjoyment.

So, is the buzzing back? According to the Post Gazette, “Penn State researchers expect lanternfly numbers to drop significantly in the next year or two, if previous population trends in the eastern part of the state hold.”

But that doesn’t mean they’ll all be gone. Rather than seeing 50 to 100 a day like we did last summer, expect closer to 10. Not as many, but debatably still too many.

Lanternflies are invasive insects that feed on a plethora of plants, including fresh produce like grapes, stone fruits, and apples.

Their damage to hardwood trees is likely less severe than originally expected, according to a Penn State study. Lanternflies won’t kill healthy hardwoods, however they will cause damage. It is suggested to water large trees during drought to help reduce the stress.

The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania advised in a press release against homeowners covering trees with sticky tape to capture lanternflies.

“The tape lives up to its name and can capture birds and beneficial insects, leading to serious injury or a prolonged and painful death,” the society said.

The best way to deal with the nuisances is to simply squish!

“Be a friend to birds and beneficial insects — say no to sticky tape and yes to the tried-and-true method of squishing Spotted Lanternflies,” the society said.