Over the past couple months, our weather has been like a wild roller coaster from being below freezing for periods of time to returning to the low 70s a few days later.
With a stretch of warmer temperatures here everyone starts to wonder about our insect friends.
The most common thoughts during sub-freezing spells are that all the insects will not be able to withstand the temperatures.
However, insects are more hardy to harsh winter conditions than most realize.
Most of the native insects are able to overwinter through all of the growth stages in different ways.
Some burrow into the soil, lie under inches of leaf litter in, hollow trees or under the bark. Some have “antifreeze” like characteristics helping them withstand cold injury.
Even though the temperature of the air is 32˚F or below, it is highly unlikely that 3 inches below the soil surface or under a couple inches of leaf litter that an insect is experiencing the same temperatures.
The non-native insects are a different story.
Their survivability of a harsh winter depends on where they originate.
For example tarnished plant bugs, which is a major pest on cotton, originates and overwinters as far north as Canada.
Fall Armyworms have to retreat to far south areas as a flight of moths because they can’t overwinter in a mild Mississippi winter.
Both the Southern and Northern House Mosquito are able to withstand our brief deep freezes.
It is also a slim chance that large colonies of fire ants were harmed due to the depth of the colony vs. the depth of the freeze.
Remember that the temperature outside does not greatly influence the insect population like everyone would hope.
Cleaning up spots where insects could overwinter such as decaying wood piles and layers of leaves can help reduce the population.
Insects have been around for millions of years and it will take a little more than some freezing weather for them to leave.
