Blazing Heat Could Speed Up Historic Cicada Invasion in Missouri?

If you look forward to the historic double cicada invasion in Missouri, I have great news for you. If you don't, well, you might want to look the other way as there is evidence that the blazing heat in Missouri could actually speed up the activity of these pests.

I would love to say that I am a pest and/or weather genius that figured this out, but the topic came up thanks to a share I saw by Meteorologist Matt Standridge from WTHR in Indiana. He shared an interesting video about how weather can and will affect the double brood invasion of cicadas that Missouri and Illinois are expecting starting in late May. His theory is that heat can make that invasion begin sooner.

My wife (aka "the smart one") who's also a meteorologist pointed me to the National Weather Service map of soil temperatures at an 8 inch depth that would affect the cicada activity. The ground in Missouri is already very warm.

Data shows that cicada brood activity can begin if the ground is warm and wet enough. It's already been a wet spring and the heat this week specifically makes me wonder if we'll reach the tipping point where this historic double brood cicada invasion will start way before expected.

The USGS and Missouri Department of Natural Resources showed where the cicadas are expected to invade once their activity begins and both Illinois and Missouri are in the crosshairs.

Time will tell if the hot and wet springs brings cicadas out of the ground sooner rather than later. Don't be surprised if it is sooner.