Much like the Zebra Mussels a few decades back.
Leafhopper. Many species are susceptible to them but native ones threaten primarily smaller plants (annuals to shrubs). Something that multiplies rapidly and takes out trees (thorough destruction of the oxygen supply) is serious. They aren’t beetles, fortunately. That is what took out the elms. Tiny beetles in and UNDER the bark. It was a leafhopper, however, that has done so much destruction to palms in Florida.
Yes, they are extremely destructive. I found our freshwater supplies under attack a few decades ago with another Chinese creature. Seen here:https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatic/invertebrates/zebra-mussel
Here’s what we’re on the lookout for here in SE TX this Summer. Already visited Louisiana. Hoping the hard winter here last year helped reduce population. Mississippi hit hard in places.
That should be a problem in SW TN, too. Lots of Kudzu there. Too dry in Central TX but I am sure there is another Homotera species that will prove worthy of concern this summer. Too dry, too wet, too anything has a way of being favorable to all insects no matter what their prey might be.