Synonyms

lantern fly

British

noun

any of various tropical insects of the homopterous family Fulgoridae, many species of which have a snoutlike process formerly thought to emit light

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The department has been monitoring for the insect and collaborating with the Washington Invasive Species Council to create a state response plan for the spotted lantern fly.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 7, 2023

The spotted lantern fly is one such pest.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 7, 2023

A tiny wasp found in China, Dryinus browni, lays its eggs inside baby spotted lantern fly nymphs, which later hatch into larvae and feed on the nymphs, killing them.

From Washington Post • Sep. 13, 2021

Meanwhile, if you encounter the spotted lantern fly, you’re encouraged to squish it.

From Washington Post • Sep. 13, 2021

Despite its name and its shiny shell, the lantern fly does not actually glow, so Maria's mention of a “flame of light” was probably the result of reflected candlelight.

From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023