Effective communication from the front lines of an invasion

The invasive Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma deliculata (White), was initially reported from Berks
County, Pennsylvania in 2014. In the years that followed its discovery in the United States,
public demand for information on this insect increased as its significance evolved from local
annoyance to national concern. Extension products that raise awareness, share the successes
of research, and address public interests make communities feel connected to science and part
of the solution to an invasive problem. The authors review “lessons learned” on developing
effective written products for the public using our experiences with the Spotted Lanternfly.