Early Spring Means Early Appearance of Missouri’s Most Deadly Bug

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.

If I'm allowed a vote, I'm still voting for an early Spring. There are indications that the warm weather Missouri is enjoying right now might be a sign that we'll see consistently great Spring weather sooner rather than later (sorry not sorry, groundhog). That reality brings with it a reminder from experts that something not so desirable will return with the warm temperatures.

What is Missouri's most dangerous creature?

It's not a snake or a spider, but the rascally mosquitos. I saw Mosquito Joe and Mosquito Magnet both share a sobering thought. They say that while mosquitos don't normally appear until May or June, they can appear as early as March in Missouri if warm weather arrives early.

How warm does it have to be for mosquitos to start pestering us?

The experts say that any climate that regularly gets into the upper 60's and 70's will see mosquitos begin to flourish. I have seen the weather computer models show we still have a handful of cold snaps coming between now and mid-March. That's fine with me as I'm not ready to deal with mosquitos and the diseases they sometimes bring with them. That's why statistically-speaking, they are the most dangerous creature on Earth. While I love warm weather, I'm willing to wait a few weeks if it keeps these pests at bay a little longer.