Lake of the Ozarks region: what is the “bug” situation llike compared to other parts of Missouri (Jefferson City: townhouse)

[Queen_Layla_of_the_Tundra]

Moving from /St Louis to Camdenton soon. Irrational terror of all insects and spiders,. What nightmare awaits for me in the Ozarks?

[Arrby]

It is essentially the same ecological system. The differences will depend entirely on the population density of your neighborhood in either location. In less densely populated areas the chances of encountering snakes increase in either city. The number and kinds of spiders will be about the same no matter what, with the exception of the various "garden" spiders that build large webs here, there, everywhere in the fall.

[SunGrins]

I lived in Jefferson City for a while, and we had occasional scorpions living in places with dry rocky outcrops. It is a pretty localized ecosystem, I think, as we never saw them anywhere else. An urban or town environment won't be much different. If you are out in the woods somewhere (hiking, hunting, fishing) I would recommend bug repellant as the ticks can get bad some years.

[SnazzyB]

Hornets. IMO, hornets are worse than wasps and bees. Hornets will chase you, and if you kill one, a dead one releases some kind of chemical that fires up the rest of them.

[sub]

Originally Posted by SunGrins

I lived in Jefferson City for a while, and we had occasional scorpions living in places with dry rocky outcrops. It is a pretty localized ecosystem, I think, as we never saw them anywhere else. An urban or town environment won't be much different. If you are out in the woods somewhere (hiking, hunting, fishing) I would recommend bug repellant as the ticks can get bad some years.

Whoa.
Never heard of scorpions in Missouri, but I wouldn't doubt it either.
We had a lot of grass spiders in our yard some years in southern MO, but they're generally harmless. From what I understand, they're shy and have a hard time biting human skin anyway.
Ticks, yes, sometimes. Mosquitos can be bad in some areas with water. Chiggers are a thing too I believe.
On the plus side, lightening bugs/fireflies light up the evenings.

The more rural the area, the more bugs there tends to be. In all the years we lived in KC, I think I got bit by a fluke mosquito once, maybe twice.
We did have a stray spider in the basement from time to time.

[mlulu23]

Here is some info about the Striped Bark Scorpion which is supposed to be the only kind found in parts of Missouri. There are photos, and info at the bottom of some other things found in Missouri also.


https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/f...-bark-scorpion


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[branDcalf]

I live within a half an hour of Camdenton in a wooded, rocky area. I have not seen scorpions. A daughter who lives at the lake has had 3 in her townhouse in 14 months' time. I have fewer large spiders here than I did in the Rocky Mtn region. We do have regular extermination by choice.

I've yet to see a poisonous snake on my place. Brown snakes were very common when we moved in, they are fewer now. A few ribbon snakes. I've had more ticks on me at one time than I knew would fit. That's likely from clearing underbrush. We spray the acreage with a mixture of permethrin and peppermint oil focusing more around the house and yards. I do it with a pump tank and walking. Good exercise.

Enjoy the area!

[Spider-Kev]

Mostly flies and gnats.
Some spiders, lots of ticks.
Bees, wasps and hornets, some mosquitos.
I'm northwest of Camdenton in Climax Springs, right on the water.