As the crisp air of autumn gives way to the cold of winter, many of us wonder: where do all the bugs go? These tiny creatures, plentiful in warmer months, seem to disappear when the temperatures drop. But while it might seem like they vanish entirely, insects have some fascinating ways of surviving the cold. From hibernating in hidden nooks to migrating to warmer climates, bugs have evolved a variety of clever strategies to weather the winter. In this blog, we'll explore where bugs go during the colder months and how they manage to survive until spring returns.
HIBERNATION
You might think that hibernation is reserved for the bears and hedgehogs of the world, but insects can hibernate, too! This version of hibernation is known as diapause and shows the wonderful ways that animals can adapt to their environment. Insects will slow their heart rate enough to enter a state of torpor. They find a nice place to shelter, such as in leaf litter, under logs, and even in homes and enter a dormant state for the colder months. Some insects even produce chemicals that keep the cells and tissues inside their bodies from freezing and rupturing their delicate bodies. These chemicals consist of glycerol, proteins, and sugars, and are known as ‘cryoprotectant compounds’.
Bees have some really interesting hibernation tendencies. They vary from species to species. In some species, only the queen hibernates, and in others, like honeybees, they simply huddle together in their hives for warmth. Some butterflies also hibernate, hanging upside down inside sheds and sheltered spaces.
MIGRATION
There are a few insects that do migrate in the colder months, allowing them to escape the harshest elements of the winter season. Monarch butterflies are a good example of this, flying all the way from the US to Mexico, and sometimes even the UK. Several other butterfly species migrate to warmer climates during the winter, like Painted Ladies and Clouded Yellows. For these insects, it is usually a one-way journey, and the next generation will travel back with the return of the warmer weather in spring.
SURVIVAL
As you’ll know, a large amount of insects do remain active. Take a look in any living room or hallway during the winter months, and you’ll see your fair share of spiders sheltering in the warmth. A few insects are even finishing up mating at the start of the winter, laying their eggs in leaf piles or underwater to protect them from the harsh elements. Some even take this a step further by finishing their lifecycles before the harshness of winter sets in, dying after laying their eggs so that the next generation can hatch with the warmth of spring. These insects utilise warm, sheltered environments to their advantage, and some have adapted over generations to protect themselves from the cold.
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