Have you ever wondered just how insects survive cold winter temperatures?
In the case of warm-blooded animals, the animal produces its own body heat through calories consumed and, in some cases, living off fat stored if the animal is in hibernation.
Insects are completely different. Since they are cold-blooded, nature has a special plan for survival.
- Some insects just like getting out of town. The monarch butterfly takes a long flight to spend the winter in Mexico.
- Other insects such as honeybees, cluster together as the temperatures drop and the collective body heat from constant movement in the hive keeps the brood warm until spring arrives.
- Lady bugs also congregate as a survival mechanism.
- Praying mantis adults die each year when the temperature drops but before they do, the mantis produces eggs that overwinter in an egg case until the temperature is just right for them to hatch out in the spring and the process starts all over again.
- Ants and termites just go deeper into the soil where it is warmer or find a warm area like under slabs where furnace pipes keep the sub slab area nice and warm all winter long.
The most interesting process for insects to survive winter is a process called “diapause”. Diapause is the process where insects just stick around during the winter and as the temperature outside drops the insect produces an antifreeze called “glycerol” which keeps ice crystals from forming in the insect even in many cases to sub-zero temperatures. Insects that produce glycerol go into a process called “torpor”, a temporary suspension or sleep, until temps rise again.
Humans think and plan for winter by preparing for the cold which is just part of winter. Keep ‘survival’ food and water available in case needed and prepare structures to keep the cold out.
Now is the time to plan for when the outdoor insects emerge from their state of torpor in the spring by scheduling a spring exterior perimeter insect treatment in March or April to get a jump on controlling nuisance insect pests at your home.