In the Northeast US, The invasive spotted lantern fly has been causing damage to crops, gardens, orchard and the forestry/logging industries. In urban areas they devour tree's lining the sidewalk and will not spare household plants. There numbers have been rapidly growing each summer since they were first spotted in the US in 2014.
In addition to all the nibbling, they also secrete a sticky waste, basically poop called honeydew, which tends to attract molds that kill the affected plants. Native to Asia and an increasing concern to local plant life, The Departments of argiculture in some of the northern states have gone so far as to call to the public for an action to squash every one they see on sight.
While on a pleasant hike with my doggo, I passed numerous tree's covered with them through the trails.. and whatever was left of the foliage.. Covered in goopy poop glistening in the sunlight.. With Lantern flies hopping and elegantly gliding from tree to tree.. with their beautiful spotted and crimson colored wings..
At the base of most tree's you could find quite a few who have passed on to insect heaven, With such beautiful colors how could i pass up the chance.. So i gathered some ded ones and collected their wings to build this piece :D
I mean they are dead anyway they are not using them.
The crimson color is the focus. Wings were organized by hand, Photographed, Digitally edited, Processed, Glitched and upscaled.
