The government says to destroy these invasive, fuzzy mud-looking masses. Here’s why. [Video]

The Department of Agriculture is seeking the public’s help to destroy an invasive species that looks like spongy mud and is growing outdoors. With spring’s official arrival, the agency says “smashing and scraping” will be an essential tool in keeping problems at bay. 

So, what exactly are we on a quest to destroy? Eggs – huge masses of them that look like mud. 

In a notice sent out earlier this month, the USDA said that the eggs belong to two invasive species, the spotted lanternfly and spongy moth. Their eggs are laid in masses on cars, trees and other outdoor surfaces, the agency said, recommending that people smash and scrape the masses into a plastic bag that’s then sealed and disposed of in the trash. They can also be removed with a pressure washer. 

“The spotted lanternfly and spongy moth are economically and environmentally destructive invasive insects,” according to the USDA. “Together, they attack …