Putnam County officials are asking residents to be on the lookout for the Spotted Lanternfly.  The invasive pest from Asia was spotted in Southbury in October of last year, recently in Staten Island and prevalent in Pennsylvania.  The destructive pest feeds on more than 70 plant species and crops that are critical to New York’s agricultural economy, such as maple trees, apple trees, grapevine, and hops.  That can leave them vulnerable to disease and attacks from other insects. Spotted Lanternfly also excretes large amounts of sticky "honeydew," which attracts sooty molds that interfere with plant photosynthesis, negatively affecting the growth and fruit yield of plants, and impacting forest health.