It's a species mostly associated with saltwater habitats, but jellyfish sightings aren't unheard of in Missouri and have been growing over the years.
Craspedacusta sowerbii — otherwise simply known as a freshwater jellyfish — have been reported in Lake Ozark, Stockton Lake, Table Rock, and other bodies of standing water across the state, including ponds and reservoirs.
They're tough creatures to monitor, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Some years they're seen, others they're not, and they need water temperatures of at least 80 degrees (typically between July and September) to survive.
"It's very sporadic," said Will Mabee, an MDC aquatic animal and researcher.