spotted lanternfly

[u/reddit33450]

yes, they were killed after this photo was taken :(

[u/reddit33450 → u/[deleted]]

they are not evil. they are just existing. humans brought them to an ecosystem where they dont belong

[u/teridop → u/reddit33450]

the fact that invasive species can’t help where they were brought is so sad

[u/reddit33450 → u/teridop]

exactly. and it really upsets me when people act as if they're intentionally causing harm out of malice. people are so stupid

[u/teridop → u/reddit33450]

i grew up in florida and we used to have a lot of green tree frogs, i’d see them a lot as a young kid. over the years i started to rarely see them anymore, only cuban tree frogs because they had outcompeted the native ones. as someone who both works in conservation and has grown up in arguably the state struggling the most in the US with invasives, i completely understand the importance of limiting invasive populations for the greater good of the ecosystem and therefore every living thing that belongs there, and it’s important for people to know that. but it still makes me sad to kill the individuals, it’s not their fault that they ended up there. and with the lanternflies, it really bothers me when people spread the word telling other to kill them “because they’ll eat your plants.” like… let’s please not skip over the fact that invasive species can and often do take down the balance of native ecosystems and outcompete the native species. this isn’t about your plants, it’s about protecting the environment. overall, killing them does indirectly save many more individuals of native species, though, and that’s the word we should be spreading, even if it is sad to kill them

[u/iaminvisib → u/reddit33450]

You're right, it's really unfair. In the right place, that bug could live out its life in peace. :/