Pests Can Overcome Winter

Overwintering is the mechanism by which an insect survives the winter. Many insects hibernate as adults, pupae, or eggs throughout the winter. They will overwinter in a number of areas, including within houses, under tree bark, and on the beneath fallen leaves.

Overwintering rodents include boxelder bugs, ladybugs, caterpillars, stink bugs, butterflies, crickets, spiders, flies, moths and mosquitoes. But how do you do it? Here are some tips for surviving the colder months in our city. If you think in winter you do not need pest control, you are wrong.

Migration - We all know a snowbird who spends the winter in Oklahoma. This isn't just a human tactic. Many insects migrate to avoid being killed by the high temperatures. The monarch butterfly is the most well-known example of this tactic, but other insects also migrate north from the south in the spring. The most common insects using migration are crop pests like dragonflies, mosquitoes, butterflies, and moths.

Swaddled - Just as humans cover a new-born to keep him or her warm and healthy, immature insect larvae survive the winter by doing the same. A woolly bear caterpillar can be covered by large piles of leaves. But other insects like spiders switch the water in the bodies with a glycerol compound that works like antifreeze of your car. To shield themselves from the cold, some grubs actually go deeper into the soil.

Eggs - Only a few insects that lay eggs can survive the winter's cold temperatures. Corn rootworms, praying mantids may both cause damage. Is there any other pest that can survive as an egg in the winter? The spotted lanternfly, of course!

Pupae – Among the four life stages of an insect during the full metamorphosis is the pupal stage (think butterflies). In this point, many pupae will survive the winter. They are often found attached to plants.

Hibernation - During the winter, several different kinds of adult insects search for places to hibernate. This is often how they gain access to your home or company. Honeybees spend the winter in their hives, creating groups for warmth for the bitterly cold weather. To increase their body temperature, they also vibrate their wing muscles. In the winter, insects such as wasps may be searching for a place to live in attics or eaves. Spiders, too, will seek refuge indoors to avoid the cold and make it through the winter.

With all of these options, overwintering isn't difficult for insects in general – particularly if the winter is mild and there are few extreme temperature fluctuations. Much more protection from the cold air can be created by a heavy snowfall, allowing them to withstand the winter.

During the winter, many species are hidden. They enter a state when growth and activities are temporarily stopped. They just have a high enough metabolic rate to keep them alive. So, if you are wondering where pests go in the winter, know that they are always around in some manner. In winter, for pest control seeking professional help is essential as proficient people would only know how insects survive in the winter. Visit Mother Nature Pest and lawn for details.