Each season brings its own unique list of pros and cons. The fun part is that no two people would have the same pros and cons list for the seasons. Some people list snow as a con while others list it as a pro. One that thing about winter that we think most people would agree on being a pro is that there are less bugs around to bother us. Have you ever wondered where the bugs go during the winter? The answer to this question will depend on the insect. Today A Five Star Termite & Pest Control will tell you what some insects do during the winter.
Some Pests Avoid the Cold
When it comes to winter survival there are three strategies that help insects get through the winter. The first one is to avoid the cold. Many insects will survive the cold winter by simply avoiding them. When the cold weather starts to roll in some insects will simply roll out. Some species of butterflies and dragonflies will both migrate south for the winter. North American monarch butterflies are known for their migration to central Mexico each winter. Swallowtail butterflies just encase themselves in a chrysalis for the winter instead of migrating. Other insects avoid the cold temperatures by traveling a much smaller distance. Many aquatic insects will live at the bottom of a pond during the winter. Even if the surface of the pond freezes they are able to maintain a comfortable temperature at the bottom of the pond. This concept is also used by some insects in the soil. They will burrow deep beneath the frost and stay warm far underground for the winter.
Some Insects Freeze in the Winter
Freezing for the winter may sound like an option that is only true in science fiction movies but there are some insects that genuinely will freeze for the winter in order to survive. The scientific word is called diapause. Diapause is a dormant, semi-frozen state some insects enter until they thaw out in the spring. The emerald ash border and the woolly bear caterpillars both are capable of freezing during the winter. Emerald ash borers freeze under the bark of threes. They have a high concentration of glycerol in their blood. The glycerol acts as a antifreeze. Woolly bear caterpillars actually freeze into tiny statues during the winter. Their body processes shut down and ice forms in their bodies. If you tap them they are actually solid.
Overwintering Pests Indoors
Another chunk of insects will just keep living like they normally do when winter comes. If humans can survive camping in the freezing temperatures insects can too right? Some insects will live on the surface while others will make themselves warmer homes in the grass and leaves. Mites and certain spiders choose this method of survival during winter.
Some Pests Die in the Winter
While some insects will use one of the techniques mentioned above to survive during the winter other insects will die. Some insects will lay eggs in the fall and then the eggs will hatch in the spring after the winter is over. This is what crickets do each year.
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If you do have some insects in your home this winter that you need help get ridding of, give A Five Star Termite & Pest Control a call. We can come out and help you get rid of any insects and other pests for you!
