Bats Are Feasting on Invasive Spotted Lanternflies, Rutgers Researcher Says

Erin McHale is a PhD candidate in the Brooke Maslo lab. Her research on bats is featured in a story on News12 TV. 

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture first sounded the alarm a few years back about the spotted lanternfly — an invasive pest threatening farms and vineyards across the state.

Now, a Rutgers researcher has uncovered an unexpected ally in the fight against this insect: bats.

“Most recently, we’ve discovered that they are eating the spotted lanternfly,” said Erin McHale, a PhD candidate.

McHale studies bat diets by analyzing their guano — that’s bat poop — to identify what they’ve been feeding on.

The discovery isn’t just academic. New Jersey residents can help combat the invasion by putting up bat houses. A single bat can consume thousands of insects in a single night, making them a natural pest control force.

See the video on newjersey.news12.com