Lantern fly

The Lantern Fly is an insect found on trees between the months of June and September, at two different times of the evening, between 4pm to 7pm, then again from 11pm to 8am. It is uncommon, and can be found in the rain aswell as on clear evenings. As with Oak Silk Moths, they are very skittish so extra care must be taken with approach.

Despite their misleading appearance and name, they are actually part of the Cicada Family.

Donating to the Museum
As with all insects in the series, the lantern fly can be donated to the Museum by talking to Blathers, who will give a small talk about it.

In Wild World
Upon donation, Blathers says:

"The lantern fly drinks the sap of the lychee, whose fluids are said to be sweet. ...The question is, who first sampled the lychee, anyhoo? It looks repellant! It took a gourmand braver than I, I assure you!"

In City Folk
Blathers speech is as follows:

"It's said that a diet of sap from the lychee tree makes the bodily fluids of the lantern fly sweet. It's also said the proper way to try them is to break off the tips of the horns and sip them like straws... It's ALSO said that anyone who does those things is officially googly-boogly out of his or her mind."

The lantern fly can be found in the top-most level of the insect section of the museum, perched on the right-most cedar tree, next to the sign.

Encyclopedia Information
Information about an insect is available in the Bug Encyclopedia after it is caught.

Wild World

 * Size: 70mm
 * Season: Summer
 * Time: Cool days
 * Their heads look exactly like an alligator's. They look like moths, but are actually cicadas.

City Folk

 * Size: About 70mm
 * Season: Summer
 * Time: Dusk
 * With alligator-like heads and mothlike wings, these are actually cicadas.

Further Information
Fulgora laternaria (also known as Lantern Fly, Alligator Bug, Peanut Bug etc) is a type of cicada. It gets the name 'lantern fly' and 'alligator bug' from its odd shaped and colored head. Its head is shaped like a serpent, or lizard, similar in style to an alligator's head, which is mentioned in the description in the Bugs and Fish tab. The name 'lantern fly' however, comes from the color of its head, which was falsely claimed to be luminescent. It protects itself by opening its wings, which reveal fake eyes. It's head may also further protect itself, by scaring off potential predators. In the game, it displays its wings when the Player gets close to it.