We tracked down Cincinnati's lizard-lanternfly conspiracy theory
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Spotted across town, alongside our legendary lizard friends. Photo: Courtesy of Gene Kritsky
Cincinnati's spotted lanternfly invasion has spawned an unlikely local theory: Are our famous Lazarus lizards fighting back?
Why it matters: Some locals swear they're seeing more of our little wall lizards just as invasive spotted lanternflies are exploding in number.
- It's a delightful theory, but the science is pretty shaky.
Reality check: "I've never seen one eat a lanternfly," Gene Kritsky, professor emeritus of biology at Mount St. Joseph University, tells Axios.
The intrigue: Smaller lanternfly nymphs could conceivably become lizard lunch, Kritsky says.
- But adult lanternflies are bigger than the lizards' heads — and they're fast.
- Lanternflies jump so quickly that Kritsky doubts a Lazarus lizard could simply "saunter up and grab one."
Between the lines: What looks like a predator-prey boom may be two unrelated Cincinnati invasions colliding.
- Lazarus lizards have expanded their territory for decades, spreading from around Downtown to neighborhoods east and west — and even as far north as Dayton, Kritsky says.
- Meanwhile, spotted lanternflies have become dramatically more noticeable here in just the past few years.
Translation: If you're outside hunting lanternflies, you're probably paying more attention to all the other tiny creatures scurrying around, too.
Zoom in: The lanternflies are worth watching. They suck sap from plants and excrete a sticky substance called honeydew that can leave decks looking perpetually wet — and even attract honeybees.
What to watch: Adults will die once cold weather arrives, but their egg masses survive to hatch next spring. Kritsky says they can look like someone smeared putty on a tree.
The bottom line: Cincinnati's Lazarus lizards probably aren't our tiny reptilian lanternfly defense force.
- However, we're choosing to believe they're doing their part.