Watch Out for a Dreaded Pest Headed Toward Missouri & Illinois

There are no reports yet, but the University of Missouri says it's inevitable that both Missouri and Illinois will see a dreaded invasive species make its way to this part of America.

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The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service lists Missouri and Illinois as ideal locations for the spotted lanternfly. The University of Missouri shared a map on YouTube showing that both the Show Me State and Land of Lincoln are ideal places for this pest to call home.

What's the problem with the spotted lanternfly?

The USDA shows these bugs are a danger to a long list of things we depend on:

• Almonds
• Apples
• Apricots
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Hops
• Maple Trees
• Nectarines
• Oak Trees
• Peaches
• Pine Trees
• Plums
• Poplar Trees
• Sycamore Trees
• Walnut Trees
• Willow Trees

If you haven't seen these bugs in Missouri yet, you will soon.

What should you look for to see if the spotted lanternfly is here?

There are 3 symptoms the USDA list including:

• Plants that ooze or weep and have a fermented odor
• Buildup of sticky fluid (honeydew) on plants and on the ground underneath infested plants
• Sooty mold on infested plants

There's no ETA on when this invasive species will be found in Missouri and Illinois. Let's hope that efforts to contain it in the eastern part of the US are successful.