Isaac Fox was the first to notice that something was out of place at the Kansas State Fair. The 19-year-old is an avid bug collector and a former member of the youth organization 4-H. He’d spent 10 years in the group’s entomology program, studying insects. Last September, Fox was at the fair to help judge top-ranked bug collections from 4-H students across the state. As he walked among the entries, his gaze landed on a striking insect mounted in a display box. It was about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long, with polka-dotted grayish forewings and blazes of brilliant scarlet on its hindwings. The bug was labeled “spotted lanternfly.” Fox told another judge, “I don’t think this is supposed to be here.”
Something was out of place at the Kansas State Fair. Isaac Fox was the first to notice. The 19-year-old loves to collect bugs. He’s a former member of the youth organization 4-H. For 10 years, he’d studied insects in the group’s entomology program. Last September, Fox was at the fair to help judge top-ranked bug collections. They’d come from 4-H students across the state. As he walked among the entries, he spotted a striking insect. It was mounted inside a display box. The bug was about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long. It had polka-dotted grayish forewings and blazes of bright scarlet on its hindwings. The insect was labeled “spotted lanternfly.” Fox told another judge, “I don’t think this is supposed to be here.”