The spotted lanternfly — an insect native to Asia — has invaded fourteen states mostly in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The pest is not toxic to humans, but threatens many important plants and crops, including apple trees, cherry trees, peach trees, and grapevines. Ethan breaks down the latest on this invasive species and contemplates if the issue is being communicated properly to people in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”
The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.
Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.
CREDITS
Writer: Ethan Brown, Maxwell Pociask, Naomi Rubin, Maddy Schmidt
Fact Checker: Owen Reith
Editor: Will Andronico
Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano
Ad Voiceover: Naomi Rubin
Music: Brett Sawka
The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.