Summary: It’s officially winter, so everyone is preparing for the incoming stormy weather. This blog describes the hibernation habits (or diapause) of 6 common pests. Every section dives into the specific hibernation habits and life cycles of the pest as they relate to winter. The featured pests are: bees, ladybugs, mosquitoes, moths, stink bugs, and wasps. Romney Pest Control provides year-round pest protection for Texas homes and businesses.
From the frigid nights to the stormy days, we’re officially in winter mode. If we can take it back to elementary science class for a second, you might remember learning about animals that go into hibernation for the winter. It’s usually mentioned in the context of mammals — like bears and skunks — that rest in their habitats until the spring warmth arrives.
Furry mammals aren’t the only ones who like to take a winter nap; there are plenty of pests that “shut down” for the colder months. Unfortunately, their ideal shelters are our homes and businesses! When they’re in a safe shelter, pests go into diapause. This is when they pause all activity but keep their metabolic rate just high enough to stay alive.
Let’s take a look at the hibernation habits of 6 common pests and learn how they spend the winter months in their cozy shelters.
Bees
Every bee species has a different hibernation process. Take honeybees, for instance. They are perfectly happy to stay inside their cozy hives all winter long. Once the thousands of bees group together, they have enough body heat to keep everyone warm. They also use their stockpile of honey for warmth because the sticky substance generates more heat as it oxidizes.
Bumblebees don’t have the luxury of a warm hive to wait out the winter. Queen bumblebees fatten up in the fall, then either go into diapause or lay eggs. The first option means they burrow into the soil and use their natural antifreeze to survive, then lay eggs in the spring. The second is to produce eggs in autumn so that the new females overwinter and start working in the spring.
Ladybugs
Ladybugs aren’t pests — they help us by eating aphids — but their hibernation process is worth mentioning. They spend the fall sitting in the sunlight to sustain what little energy they have left. Insects have more energy in higher temperatures, so this is the ladybug’s last chance to gain energy before settling into its winter shelter.
If they’re find an entry point in a nearby building, ladybugs will do everything they can to get inside. The ladybugs that you see enjoying the sun on your windows can even sneak in through the window frame. They are complete harmless, so it’s not an emergency if they happen to get into a house. But since they usually invade in huge groups, it’s not an ideal situation.
Mosquitoes
Since mosquitoes prefer to be in the hottest, most humid weather we can have, they aren’t big fans of winter. Most female mosquitoes mate before overwintering because they need to lay eggs in early spring. The adults go into hibernation near water (usually inside a log) to have their egg-laying site nearby. Any bit of fresh, still water is good enough for an expectant mosquito.
Mosquito eggs have such tough exteriors that they can technically withstand the winter. Some female mosquitoes lay their eggs underneath ice because the melting ice will give the larvae enough moisture to survive. Regions with mild winters will see more mosquitoes in the next spring and summer since the eggs will have no problem making it through some chilly nights.
Moths
The hibernation methods of moths are drastically different between species. Some hatch from eggs in the fall to create protective cocoons for their development into adult moths. Luna moths do this underneath the cover of leaf litter for extra heat. Others hibernate while they’re caterpillars, then complete the metamorphosis in the spring. Imperial moths and wooly bear caterpillars have the advantage of fuzz to provide them with much-needed heat.
Any moth eggs left after the fall need to stay sheltered in order to survive the winter. But they still have the protection of their outer shells, whereas adult moths really need to hide in the winter. Their wings need the warmth of the sun to work properly, so they stay hidden until it’s warm again. Any moths that emerge prematurely may be stunned and die before spring comes.
Stink Bugs
These smelly bugs technically survive the bitter cold, but they would much rather spend this season indoors. They begin their search for shelter in the fall. Stink bugs in rural areas just hide under leaf litter or bark. If they happen to be near a house or building, stink bugs will desperately search for an entry point that allows their group inside. They don’t have to worry about food because they eat enough in the fall to last the winter.
They’ll move to a dark, isolated space that has enough room for their whole group, like wall voids. When the bugs die inside the walls, their infamous scent starts leaking out. The surviving bugs go into diapause and don’t move throughout the colder months. They will only emerge if they need food or if they think the rising temperatures means it’s spring. Either way, any stink bugs coming out of your walls is a likely sign of an invasion.
Wasps
Contrary to bees, many wasp colonies don’t make it to winter at all. Most of the workers die in the fall, and the remaining wasps don’t always like to stay in their nests. Paper wasps stay elevated for the added protection. Other wasps hide inside attics, wall voids, and tree stumps (if they can’t get indoors). Any surviving wasps can hide inside their nest as a hibernation method if the nest is still intact.
The queen has her own agenda. She mates in the fall, then isolates in a shelter for the winter. Once springtime arrives, the queen emerges and starts building her new nest. The workers that hatch soon after will take over the construction duties. In order for the colony to thrive next year, the queen has to survive the winter. She won’t have any food, but a warm shelter still gives her a great chance of making it through the freezing months.
Romney Doesn’t Hibernate For The Winter
The main pest issue homeowners face every winter is invasive critters wanting their hibernation spot to be inside the house. When you don’t want pests destroying your cozy home, Romney Pest Control is here to help! Our licensed technicians first search for all signs of pest activity, then use their findings to create a customized treatment plan. We utilize efficient treatments that not only eliminate your current pests, but also prevent future invaders. We look forward to keeping you pest-free this winter and beyond. Contact us today for a free quote on our efficient pest control services!
Citations
Are insects hibernating inside your home?. (n.d.). K-State: Johnson County. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/natural-resources/agent-articles/home-insect-control/insects-inside-the-home.html
Panko, B. (2017, February 15). What do insects do in winter?. Smithsonian Magazine. Available at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-do-insects-do-winter-180962183/ (Accessed on December 9, 2024).
Sabharwal, S. (2022, August 31). Do moths hibernate?. Wildlife Welcome. Available at https://wildlifewelcome.com/moths/do-moths-hibernate/ (Accessed on December 9, 2024).
Wallheimer, B. (2021, February 3). Where do bugs go in winter? Depends, but they’re still close by. Purdue College of Agriculture. Available at https://ag.purdue.edu/stories/where-do-bugs-go-in-winter/ (Accessed on December 9, 2024).
Where do insects go in the winter?. (n.d.). Smithsonian. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/winter
Where do wasps go in wintertime?. (2021, March 15). Best Bee Brothers. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://bestbeebrothers.com/blogs/blog/where-are-wasps-in-winter
