Spotted lanternfly red nymphs, Herrs Island back channel, 25 July 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

27 July 2025on

On a walk at Herrs Island back channel this week (Millvale side) I was on my usual route down the boat ramp when a bug dropped on me. It was red, black and white like the ones pictured above. Ewww! The Ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima) tree above me was crawling with red nymph spotted lanternflies  (Lycorma delicatula).

Below the tree I found a mob swarming on a retaining wall.

Crawling with spotted lanternflies, 25 July 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

And they didn’t sit still. Creepy crawly horrors!

Swarm of red nymph spotted lanternflies, Pittsburgh, 25 July 2025

This week must have been the peak of red nymphs at the Allegheny River Trail for I saw only 5 winged adults.

Adult spotted lanternfly, Herrs Island back channel, 25 July 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Imagine when all those nymphs turn into adults. Clearly the worst is yet to come along with more summer horror films.