I know why invasive species are invasive. I get it. And it seems there have been a lot more in Kentucky in recent years. Wild pigs and those pesky Asian carp spring to mind.

And if I'm given the green light to kill an invasive creature--I'm thinking more along the lines of insects now--no problem. I kill mosquitos and flies all the time. I've got this--not before the mosquitos make a dot-to-dot coloring book out of my legs, but I'm on it.

Of course, the U.S. Department of Agriculture isn't worried about my backyard, unless the mosquitos in question are carriers of infection. But they ARE deeply concerned about a certain creature and urge us to kill it if we see it. It's the strikingly beautiful spotted lanternfly. It's native to China but they have made their way to the states and they are an enormous problem. In fact, the USDA would like for us to report them if we see them.

There are some who might not be concerned since they pose no threat to humans or pets--no bites, no stings, no venom. But our crops and trees are over there saying, "Yeah? Hold my beer."

They are a big problem in Pennsylvania, where they were first spotted in 2014. But they've spread to surrounding states and have migrated to the Midwest. It wouldn't be a huge shock if these hungry little beasts showed up in Kentucky, especially since they have a propensity for riding on cars.

SpottedLanternflyKillers.com explains exactly why we need to eradicate them:

Walnut, sycamore, pine, apple, maple, oak, willow, and poplar are among the varieties of trees the spotted lanternfly likes to go after.

If you don't feel like hunting them down, follow these tips for keeping them at bay:

If you haven't seen any--and they're obviously not hard to spot--but think you could have them in your yard, here's what to look for:

It's the perfect time of the year for sitting in the yard, so if you see one or many of them, let the USDA know.

They may be beauties, but they're also beasts.