The PIs of the iEco Lab attended the 2017 3rd quarterly meeting of the Governor’s Invasive Species Council of Pennsylvania. There, they spoke to stakeholders and government officials about the impacts invasive species are having on Pennsylvania’s ecosystems, economies and human health. One troubling invader was discussed in detail, the Spotted Lanternfly, which is not at all like a lightning bug, but true bug that attacks crops such as hops, basil, grape, apple, and hardwoods. The population has rapidly expanded and without adequate funding for removal when it was noticed a few years ago, the species has established and is already causing economic damage. For example, PA is the #1 exporter of hardwoods in the U.S., this pest infestation could decimate this industry.