This invasive beast was brought here not more than three years ago to the region via a big collector or some shipment of whatever.. and it has now become quite the local problem pest.
This thing, reproduces twice a warm season and overwinter eggs on the bark of trees. They suck the juice out of trees and plants and crops and will launch themselves at your face, seemingly in protest of your existence.. but will also jump out of harms way quicker than you can blink.
They are quite ugly, and this summer I must have killed hundreds. Praying Mantis feast on them, and perhaps a reason why I see so many of the elegant predators.
One sunny afternoon hanging by the pool, I witnessed thousands of these nasty red underwinged critters soaring through the air, approaching the property using the wind of the storms as their propellor.
I’ll be busy this Winter eradicating the creatures egg clusters off trees that’s for sure.