22 August 2025

I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen a plague of spotted lanternflies in Allegheny County this year. At this time in August 2023 they were everywhere, but not now. At least, not yet.

The plague has moved northwest. Spotted lanternflies are overwhelming the Cleveland area right now — so much so that they even climbed up a peregrine’s foot while she was minding her own business in Rocky River. (picture at top; yellow circle around the bug)

Chris Saladin captured photos of the bugs crowding “Luna” as she perched on a lightpost. When she opened her wings to fly there was one on her wing! Ewwww.

Luna went airborne and so did the bugs.

These are probably the First Ever photos of the simultaneous flight of peregrine falcon and spotted lanternflies.

Fortunately, in the year after a spotted lanternfly plague their population tapers considerably. There’s hope for summer 2026 in Rocky River.