Bugs

Missouri Department of Agriculture already warning about an invasive bug that's been spotted in neighboring states.

Missouri is one of the states that are now in the danger zone for the nasty kissing bug disease.

There are few things that bring more joy than the thoughts of Spring arriving early. That, however, comes with the reality that warmer weather will also bring with it the potential early appearance of Missouri's most deadly creature.

I am not a fan of the many cicadas and ticks you find in Illinois, but at least you can see those bugs. There's a nearly invisible one that is apparently responsible for thousands of people in Illinois who are saying they're experiencing super-itchy bites from a pest that you can almost never see.

Even if you're a bug-friendly type of person, if you see these insects in Illinois they should be crushed immediately. They may be little, but they're a serious threat to the environment around us.

The good news is the historic brood invasion of cicadas in Illinois is lessening. However, the bad news is the screams of these pests is getting louder and there's a strange reason why.

They are going to need a whole team of people to clean up this neighborhood.

This is potentially very bad news for trees in Missouri. Suddenly, there are hundreds of reports in Missouri of an invasive pest that is responsible for the deaths of millions of trees every single year.

The fact that a record number of cicadas are making their way through Illinois as we speak is bad enough, but it might be even worse if you have a garden you're proud of.

They're coming. Oh, wait. The truth is they're already here. The notorious cicada brood hatch is now making its way northward in Missouri and there's nothing you can do to stop them.