Lantern Bugs

NPR had a story this morning  about Lantern Bugs. They mention that the excrement is almost all sugar and encourages fungus growth which can slow the work of  chlorophyll in plants.

They then went into all sorts of machinations to try and control them. From placing a sticky substance on tree trunks (which can trap and kill animals) to finding egg sacks and place them in alcohol to using insecticides which endanger humans.

The fact of the matter is that In general, lantern bugs are not considered to be a serious threat to most plants.

You can just knock them off foliage with a stream of water or... just wait for the coming cold season that will take care of them naturally.