With school officially closed for the semester, children might be stuck at home. But that doesn't mean they're stuck inside. In fact, they can spend their time preparing to look for spotted lanternflies.

The spotted lanternfly is an insect species that's invaded Pennsylvania, according to Penn State Extension. Since first being identified in Berks County in 2014, reports to Penn State have placed the pesky pests in 25 other counties.

If spotted lanternflies aren't contained, they have the potential to “drain” Pennsylvania's economy by $324 million annually, according to Penn State economists.

At least two of Butler County's neighbors - Allegheny and Beaver counties - are on the list of counties dealing with the troublesome insects. Concerns remain the specifies will eventually find its way to Butler County.

“The SLF has been spotted in Beaver,” said Mary Reefer, a member of the Penn State Extension Master Gardener program. “It will be here soon and will cause problems.”

Counties where spotted lanternflies have been found are under a state quarantine in an attempt to stop the spread of the species.

Businesses and organizations in quarantine zones for work-related reasons must secure permits issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to travel, according to Penn State Extension.

To further stop the spread of spotted lanternflies, Pennsylvanians are asked to notify agencies like the Department of Agriculture or Penn State of their presence.

“I can't predict at this point when the egg masses will become common place,” Reefer said. “But at some point, they will.”

Spotted lanternflies can be identified in several stages, according to Reefer. Early stage nymphs, which are an eighth- to a quarter-inch long, are found in April through July.

Late stage nymphs are half an inch long and found July through September.

Adults are an inch long and found July through December.

Looking for and identifying spotted lanternflies can be a family activity, according to Reefer, who suggested children hunt for and “smash” any egg masses they find.

“Sort of like looking for Easter eggs,” Reefer said. “It is a good lesson about how destructive things that are not native to our region can be.”

Kids also have an advantage when it comes to “hunting for treasures,” according to Reefer.

“They have eagle eyes,” Reefer said. “Perfect (for) close inspection of everything in their yards.”

Reefer said spotted lanternflies begin laying eggs in September on a number of hard surfaces, like trees, outdoor furniture and cars. Because kids have access to these areas, they have the ability to identify egg masses.

“Don't forget to check out their bikes, scooters, kiddie pools and sandboxes,” Reefer said.

When an egg mass is identified, it can be scraped off the surface with a credit card or putty knife and put in a container with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.

Reefer said if kids choose to go the “smash” route, the egg masses should be well-squashed and sealed in a garbage bag.

“They should feel good that they are doing their part in protecting their property and neighborhood from these bad bugs,” Reefer said.

Spotted lanternflies don't sting or bite, but they do cause damage. They feed on over 70 types of plant sap, including the sap of fruit and nut trees.

They're also extremely attracted to tree-of-heaven, an invasive deciduous tree native to China and Taiwan. Tree-of-heaven was introduced to Pennsylvania in 1784 and spreads rapidly, according to Penn State.

Spotted lanternflies feast by piercing plants and sucking out sap. This method “stresses” plants, ultimately causing poor health and even death.

What the spotted lanternfly leaves behind can be just as bad. As it feeds, the spotted lanternfly excretes “honeydew.” This attracts other insects, like bees and wasps. Enough buildup over time can cause fungal growth.

The spotted lanternfly's favorite foods include several plants that are economically important to Pennsylvania: grapevines and maple, black walnut, birch and willow trees.

Reports of spotted lanternfly sightings can be made by calling the Penn State Extension hot line at 1-888-422-3359.

Reports can also be made electronically at extension.psu.edu/have-you-seen-a-spotted-lanternfly.