My grandchildren are masters at offing lantern flies
The middle grandchild (4 at the time last summer) calls them "Spotterins". Now all of us call them that.
The kids have developed an ingenious killing system featuring fat waffleball bats.
1. Locate a spotterin.
2. Use fat bat to strike the area beside the creature with force.
3. The spotterin will leap into the air and fly away a short distance.
4. Locate the spotterins' landing spot.
5. Quickly move in and destroy the spotterin with the fat wiffleball bat.
Key discovery by the children: Spotterins have evolved an aggressive first defense. When threatened and before any contact, they detect the motion and launch themselves into the air for a short distance out of the range of the attacker. The children discovered that the effort to escape slows their ability to elude an immediate second attack. It's like they need a moment to recharge. That's their weakness.
Using their discovery, my grandchildren have murdered thousands of spotterins since last summer. I'm very proud of them.
*This method also works on cave/camel crickets.
** Edited by Newt at 7/29/2026, 5:16:12 PM
Thread Replies (12)
Just squished a dang lanternfly...
-- astrohokie
Jul 28, 2026 at 12:57 PM ET
astrohokie
•
07/28/26 12:57 PM ET
They are all over our neighborhood. It's a daily squish for us here.**
-- Vtskier1
Jul 28, 2026 at 09:33 PM ET
Vtskier1
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07/28/26 09:33 PM ET
had one 3o4 INdoors the other nite... took me a 3o4 few to realize its NOT,**
-- bourbonstreet
Jul 28, 2026 at 08:05 PM ET
bourbonstreet
•
07/28/26 08:05 PM ET
My grandchildren are masters at offing lantern flies
◄
-- Newt
Jul 28, 2026 at 07:07 PM ET
Newt
•
07/28/26 07:07 PM ET
Same concept works for a mongoose.**
-- Lancelot Link
Jul 29, 2026 at 04:24 PM ET
Lancelot Link
•
07/29/26 04:24 PM ET
If anyone you know has a Tree of Heaven on their yard...get rid of it LINK**
-- Tuckahokie
Jul 28, 2026 at 01:49 PM ET
Tuckahokie
•
07/28/26 01:49 PM ET
HAck and squirt method is not very efficient
-- Spudnut
Jul 28, 2026 at 04:18 PM ET
Spudnut
•
07/28/26 04:18 PM ET
No. But I have Tears in Heaven. **
-- HokieGator
Jul 28, 2026 at 03:52 PM ET
HokieGator
•
07/28/26 03:52 PM ET
Those things are a PITA. We are having some removed today.**
-- reestuart
Jul 28, 2026 at 03:35 PM ET
reestuart
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07/28/26 03:35 PM ET
Is it also called the stinkweed tree?**
-- HokieHi71
Jul 28, 2026 at 02:28 PM ET
HokieHi71
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07/28/26 02:28 PM ET
saw my first couple in Christiansburg yesterday**
-- JoesterVT
Jul 28, 2026 at 01:47 PM ET
JoesterVT
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07/28/26 01:47 PM ET