ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Millions of cicadas have been hibernating in the ground for the last 17 years and they are expected to come out in the next couple weeks as temperatures rise. While Missouri isn't going to get the worst of the buggy resurrection, the annual cicadas will still be out. However, a local pest control expert says mosquitoes will be the bigger worry this year.
Technical Director at Rottler Pest and Lawn Solutions, Jay Everitt says the big increase in wet weather in the area will likely mean more mosquitoes.
"They're all doing really well. This hot and warming weather we're going to have in the next week or so is only going to speed that process up. So if you're outside make sure you're using your repellants, keeping that standing water flipped over and that'll go a long way."
Missouri isn't expected to see an emergence of 17- or 13-year cicadas until the year 2024, but next summer in Illinois will be the return of 13-year cicadas. However, both states will still see the annual cicadas emerge, which look like larger and greener versions of the famous periodical cicadas. Annual cicadas go through a life cycle of only up to five years, and some are present every year — thus they are called annual, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
“The last time they emerged, about 13 or 17 years ago, most of the big populations were down in Washington, Westmoreland, and Southern Allegheny County,” said Entomologist, Bill Todaro, during an interview with KDKA Radio.