MY FIRST SPOTTED LANTERN FLY, found dead on a road I crossed up in the watershed. These things have colonized far enough, feed on so many trees and plants, and have so few natural enemies, that they are certainly here to stay. They’re a real threat to local vineyards and orchards, but also like Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven), Evodia danielii (Korean evodia), Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper), and Juglans mandshurica (Manchurian walnut).
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In the early 80's, I lived in the foothills below the Cactoctin mountains in Thurmont, in a community off 15 called Mountaindale. I enjoyed the view of the mountains from my house. I remember the gypsy moth devastaion to the oak forest. After two years, the trees had all died, and the mountain was grey due to lack of foliage from the dead trees. They were cleared out due to the risk of fire and to our surprise and pleasure, the ruffed grouse that had been in decline was increasing in numbers. We would see them regularly when we went to the mountains. The trees came back a few years later, but it was interesting to see how the wildlife adapted according to the changing forest canopy.
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