They tell us lanternflies are here to stay. I read the book Pest, earlier this year, so I am aware that things we deem pests versus helpful new species changes. That often we hate things and then change our minds, or introduce things and then discover they cause problems when allowed to run amok.
One of my beta readers for I Belong to You said she could sort of see how the animals of Rock Creek Park might need an HOA of sorts. Because the deer are cute and adorable, or majestic. But also, they are big and the eat things, things other animals might want to eat. And the only thing that exists in or near the park that might curb the deer population is humans. (Occasionally a deer has foolishly frolicked into the zoo, to discover that we do keep a few predators in there. But so far no one has suggested Lion night in Rock Creek Park as a solution. Also, to be clear, I am pro-deer. Hi, deer!)
But what do they mean when they say lanternflies are here to stay? They mean you don't have to stomp each one you see, because stomping is not the way out. But of course, they mean we can't eradicate lanternflies by stomping them one by one. Not that there aren't solutions to lanternflies. And yes, having read Pest I am aware that humans have never really eradicated a species they were trying to eradicate.
But some species are gone. Or - more applicably - gone from some of the places they were causing harm to other wildlife. But it wasn't because people stomped them. It took a collective, strategic, and often years long effort. But does that mean you can't stomp one? That is up to you.
