It looks like a butterfly. It flits like a moth. Its name says “fly.” But which of these insect types is a lanternfly, really?

None of the above. It’s a planthopper.

Bugs with boogie. God made planthoppers very good at movement. They can easily travel backward, forward, and even sideways. (They’re one of the only insects that can walk like crabs!) And, of course, they hop. A quick spring from one plant to another can save one from predators. The downside: They’re also great at hopping away from gardeners. Most leafhoppers in America have natural insect predators such as lady beetles, lacewings, and damsel bugs. Spiders and birds love a planthopper lunch too. But lanternflies? Far fewer predators in North America seem to want ’em.

A dangerous diet. Spotted lanternflies are designed to gobble an Asian plant called tree of heaven. But they’ll settle for any of a variety of trees. Got a black walnut, red or silver maple, eastern white pine, weeping willow, black willow, black cherry, or sycamore in your yard? Look out for lanternflies!

Have trees, will travel. Speaking of tree of heaven—it’s a menace too. Like the lanternfly, this Asian tree has spread over North America. It came to the United States from China in the 1700s. Why not plant it everywhere? It grew quickly. Bugs didn’t eat it. It provided lovely shade.

People soon learned why not. No one can get rid of it! It leaks into soil a chemical that is toxic to many plants. The tree’s strong roots do damage underground to roads, sewers, and buildings. To make matters worse, its flowers release an icky smell—which is why its other name is “stink tree.” And more stink trees mean more spotted lanternflies.