Spotted lanternfly at Herrs Island back channel, 3 August 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

8 August 2026

Spotted lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula) became more abundant this week but are still just a handful compared to 2023. In fact I had to go looking for them.

At the Herrs Island back channel on 3 August my experience was: “Found you, spotted lanternfly!” instead of three years ago: “Ewwwww! Yuk! So many spotted lanternflies!!”

The bug at top landed on the bike trail and was buffeted by passing bicycles. Another perched near this year’s favorite host plant — invasive grapevine. They don’t seem to be using the Ailanthus trees as much. Perhaps they sucked them dry.

Spotted lanternfly, Herr’s Island back channel, 3 August 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

My favorite bug of the week was this leaf-footed bug that landed on my window. I usually see them as silhouettes but this time he started low enough that I could see his colors and his eyes. Way cool!

It’s been seven years since I saw a scarlet pimpernel in Pittsburgh. This one was growing among the grass on the Cathedral of Learning lawn.

Scarlet pimpernel on CL lawn, 6 August 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Why is the flower’s name so familiar?

It is the title of a 1905 novel The Scarlet Pimpernel by British author Baroness Orczy.

Within the novel: Calling someone a scarlet pimpernel means they live a double life, acting silly or unimportant in public while secretly doing brave, clever, or heroic work behind the scenes. It also describes someone who is very hard to catch, find, or pin down.

Seven years between sightings must mean the flower is hard to find. But then, I don’t go looking for it.