They are coming. It won't be long now before both Missouri and Illinois are dealing with one of the largest cicada invasions in recent memory and new maps show where they'll be landing.
There are many in Illinois that remember a time decades ago when cicadas were so thick, people had to remove them with snow shovels. Believe it or not, the incoming cicada army in 2024 will make that look like a minor event as experts say the Land of Lincoln is about to see more cicadas than it's seen in more than 200 years.
My wife has already informed me that she will not be going outside to get the mail once Spring arrives this year in 2024. Why? It's because Missouri is officially on the arrival list for a nasty bug that hasn't been in the state for 13 years.
I am not a fan of bugs. I know they serve a needed purpose, but I'd prefer they do it in a different place than I am. I found the first of many stink bugs near my home in Missouri recently which reminded me this invasive pest is back in force. Experts are trying to convince me to let them live. Let's see if they're successful.
This is one bug that is not supposed to be in Illinois and up until now has never been. It's a bug that is deadly to trees and Illinois officials have confirmed that it has been spotted in the Land of Lincoln for the first time ever.
If you'd like to predict the weather in Missouri, you need to listen to nature. One great example is the cry of the cicada. The fact that they've become a constant sound in the early evenings in Missouri means frost can't be that far away.
There are a lot of bugs in Missouri that are a nuisance, but this one is particularly nasty. It goes by many names, but no matter what you call it, this bug bites hard and is after your blood.