The season when swarms of spotted lanternflies come to the Philadelphia region is nearly upon us, but this time, researchers may have a way of getting them under control, writes Ross DiMattei for CBS News Philadelphia.

Part of the problem why it has taken almost ten years to make any progress in dealing with the invasive pest is that they are native to Asia, and do not have any natural predators in America.

Now, researchers in Delaware have returned from China with several natural predators to spotted lanternflies that have major potential.

Kim Hoelmer, with the Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit, and her colleagues at a USDA laboratory on the University of Delaware’s campus recently honed in on two tiny parasitic wasps native to China that specifically seek out and attack adolescent lanternflies.

“The first of these wasps is a small parasitic wasp that attacks lanternfly eggs,” said Hoelmer, “and the second is another parasitic wasp a little bit larger that attacks the younger nymphal stages after the eggs hatched.”

These wasps will not sting or hurt humans. However, it will take years to prove whether they prefer spotted lanternflies over other insects.

Read more about spotted lanternflies at CBS News Philadelphia.

What to do if you come across a spotted lanternfly.