Insects in Winter
What happens to insects this time of year? A few remain active, such as snow fleas, and some, like monarch butterflies, migrate, but the vast majority of insects overwinter in New England. The insects that stay here are susceptible to freezing due to the fact that they cannot control the temperature of their body. Some insects, such as woolly bear caterpillars, can tolerate having ice form in their tissues, but most insects go into a state known as diapause. When the days start getting shorter, these insects reduce the water content of their body, as water freezes at a high temperature compared to other liquids, and replace it with glycerol, which acts like antifreeze, protecting them from freezing. (Due to technical problems which hopefully will be resolved soon, I am unable to include a photograph with this post. My sincere apologies.)
Mary, no need for apologies, love reading your posts as well as seeing the photos.
October 24, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Thank you so much, Eugenie. I may be bald from pulling my hair out over this computer issue!
October 24, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Hi Mary…Interesting post on the insects especially the woolly bear caterpillar,! I do have a question about deer and ticks in generally as far as the cold weather goes! I have been told that after a freeze they are not active this time of year, but walking in some tall grass later then this last year I had 10 or more all over my pants! So do you know when they are not active???
Thanks Grace
October 24, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Grace, I have read that deer ticks become inactive when the temp drops below 42 degrees. But they can live thru the winter, especially the warm one we had last year. So they might be active one day and not the next.
October 24, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Hi Grace,
Supposedly nymphs and adult ticks become inactive during the winter months, but last winter they certainly didn’t. I’ve read various articles about the temperature that triggers their inactivity. Some say that 32 degrees is the cut-off point at which you no longer have to worry about them, but I do know that if the temperature rises well above freezing, they will become active again, as they did during last winter’s mild weather.
October 24, 2012 at 4:58 pm
And then there are all the bugs that migrate into my house!
October 24, 2012 at 3:39 pm
I am being inundated with Western Conifer Seed beetles (Leptoglossus occidentalis) this year. I can have dozens clustered on my screen doors and they come into the house. I’ve had occasional ones over the last few years, but this autumn they are like the ladybug invasions of past years. Any news on why they are so prevalent this year?
October 24, 2012 at 4:42 pm
But where do the insects reside all winter, in their state of diapause?
October 24, 2012 at 9:28 pm
There’s a general migration downwards, into the forest floor, soil, etc. Many insects also seek refuge behind bark, in crevices, galls, etc.
October 25, 2012 at 1:25 am