Ask a Professor: Martha Weiss on Spotted Lanternflies
Biology professor and entomologist Martha Weiss was featured in Georgetown University’s “Ask a Professor” series this month, discussing the spotted lanternfly invasion spreading across the DC area.
Martha Weiss is a biology professor and entomologist in the College of Arts & Sciences
In the feature, Dr. Weiss breaks down the insect’s lifecycle—from black and bright-red juvenile nymphs in late spring and summer to adult planthoppers. She explains why these exotic invasive pests are likely here to stay, noting that while they are poor fliers, their sturdy, well-camouflaged egg masses make them expert hitchhikers on vehicles and shipping materials.
Though their arrival can feel overwhelming, Dr. Weiss reassures residents that spotted lanternflies do not bite, sting, or pose a direct threat to humans or pets. While they feed on plant sap and excrete a sticky residue called honeydew that can attract mold, the overall damage to local plant life has proven less severe than initially feared.
Instead of trying to stomp out an established population, Dr. Weiss encourages a shift toward practical mitigation and ecological appreciation—advising residents to actively scout for and scrape away gray, mud-like egg masses in early spring to limit next season’s local numbers. As Dr. Weiss puts it: “If you can’t beat them, appreciate them!”
Images Source: Georgetown University. (2026, July 16). Are spotted lanternflies that bad? How these insects affect your environment. Georgetown University News.