Wherever there are clusters of trees, insects are sure to appear. However, unless you're an expert, it can be challenging to identify them. Recently, a Taiwanese netizen posted a query on the Facebook group "Gangs of Tian Mu", asking, "What kind of insect is this? I saw it in my backyard," along with a photo. Many knowledgeable individuals were astonished upon seeing the image.
The insect's body resembles fresh green leaves with numerous white and yellow spots. Its head features an upward-curving, elongated snout-like protrusion, also adorned with white spots. The vibrant colors make it look quite amusing, as if it stepped out of a fairy tale. Many netizens were delighted, commenting, "It's so cute," "It looks really beautiful," "It seems intelligent," and "The colors are stunning".
However, insiders were shocked, warning, "Beautiful things are often harmful," "Kill it immediately," "It's an invasive species; please remove it," "It's a pest, the killer of the fruit world; it must be eradicated," and "Report it to the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine." The insect in question is called the "Pyrops candelaria", a member of the Fulgoridae family, known to be an agricultural pest.
About the Pyrops candelaria
The pyrops candelaria lays eggs from April to July, typically on the flat, well-ventilated branches of longan trees about 2.5 meters above the ground. Each egg cluster contains 60 to 100 eggs, arranged in a rectangular pattern. Historically, this insect primarily inhabited longan trees in Kinmen County, feeding on the sap of branches, affecting not only longan but also lychee, mango, pomelo, olive, and citrus trees. When their numbers are high, they can weaken tree vigor, dry out branches, reduce fruit quality, and even cause fruit drop. The adults can fly, spreading quickly, making them more feared than the lychee stink bug.
The pyrops candelaria was first spotted on the main island of Taiwan in August 2018, mainly in the northern regions, specifically in New Taipei City's Bali and Wugu districts, and Taipei City's Beitou District. The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine urges the public not to collect or abandon these insects. If spotted, citizens are advised to report them by calling (02) 3343-2064.
In fact, farmers are also troubled by the lychee stink bug, an invasive pest that appears in spring, laying eggs everywhere and disrupting the ecosystem.
