THE US OPEN is braced for an invasion of sex-crazed, crop-hungry BUGS.
British hopes Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper might have to take evasive action when they start their singles campaign next week as they chase the record $5million champions’ pot.
The three-week tennis Major may be marred by a swarm of spotted lanternflies, currently enjoying a population explosion.
The pesky critters have been spotted in 29 of New York State’s 62 counties during a red-hot summer.
Flushing Meadows, the Slam’s venue, is the fourth-largest public park in the State, with a total area of 897 acres.
Should any bugs appear at the venue, fans and players have been advised to report them to local authorities — then STOMP them to death.
Lanternflies recklessly munch everything from vegetable gardens to fruit trees and generally hatch in late May.
With people tending to notice them while they are frantically mating in August.
Kelli Hoover, professor of entomology at Pennsylvania State University, fears they will spread like wildfire across the States.
She said: “They’re hopping on trains, planes and ships.
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“These guys are brave hitch-hikers.”
And Brian Eshenaur, an invasive species specialist at Cornell University, said: “When somebody sees an insect, we ask them to take a picture first.
“And then stomp on it.”
