Lunchtime Discovery: The Life of a Showgirl: The Flashy but Destructive Spotted Lanternfly

  • Wednesday, November 12, 2025
  • 12:00pm - 1:00pm
  • Downtown Raleigh

graphic with lunchtime discovery series text title on top with a photo of Dr. Kelly Oten, a photo of a spotted lanternfly with bright red coloration, and an another graphic with the text "life of a showgitl" with a cartoon spotted lanternfly

Join us in-person in the SECU Daily Planet Theater or watch the livestream on YouTube Live.

It’s beautiful, it’s bold-and it’s bad news for North Carolina. The spotted lanternfly, first detected in our state in 2022, may look flashy with its bright wings, but behind the showgirl exterior lies a destructive pest that threatens vineyards, orchards, landscape plants, and forests. It is spreading quickly, leaving behind plant damage, sticky messes, and big headaches for landowners. Join us to learn the full story of the spotted lanternfly – its life cycle, the damage it causes, and, most importantly, what YOU can do about it.

Dr. Kelly Oten, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, NC State University


Live Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff. Brought to you by the NC DEQ Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.

Details

Date:
November 12
Times:
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Venue

Nature Research Center
121 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601 United States
Phone:
919.707.9800

Organizer

Chris Smith
919.707.9296