Insects in Cold Weather – All insects have some ability to withstand cold weather. One of the most common strategies is to bury themselves underground, beneath leaf litter, or to burrow under tree bark for protection and hibernate for the season. These protective maneuvers work well most winters, allowing insect populations to remain relatively stable.
Warmer than average winters over the last few decades, however, has allowed the populations of some types of creepy crawlies to explode. When winter temperatures never reach a truly deep freeze, bugs make it through to spring unscathed and ready to multiply.
For instance, Lyme-disease-carrying deer ticks — which are not actually insects, but eight-legged arachnids, like spiders — are now seen in larger quantities and have spread farther to the north than they once roamed.
When temperatures drop well below 0° F, though, many individual insects die. The colder the temperature becomes, the fewer survive.
Fleas, however, are a year-round nuisance, but they can die off outside when outside temperatures dip below freezing. In fact, once the temperatures fall to 37 degrees F, it’s cold enough to kill mature fleas as well as eggs, larvae and pupae. But those temps need to be sustained for 10 days or longer outside.
Inside the home, however, where it’s nice and toasty warm, fleas survive all winter long no matter what the temperature is outdoors. Often the pupae can go dormant in cool areas like basements or crevices in the home, then re-infest once the temperatures warm up again. You may need to treat pets year-round.
Temperature has a strong influence on termite activity–both on a daily and seasonal basis. Termites exposed to freezing temperatures without shelter are usually killed within a short period of time.
Well whether Winter or Summer, we at Southern Pest Control are here to help protect your home and offices from unwanted pests year-round. We have been in the pest control business for over 37 years with trained professionals ready to identify your pest problem and insure that your home is protected. Please call us if we can help. Also visit our website, www.southernpestcontrol.biz to meet our team and learn more about us.
