Rainy weather doesn’t just give us the blues, it also affects bugs. Since insects are cold-blooded, their body temperature reacts to their environment. This means that when the weather changes, bugs have to switch up their lifestyle. Check out how different weather conditions affect bugs.
Spring & Summer: Here Come the Bugs
Spring breeze makes the bugs feel fine. After a long winter, bugs are ready to stretch their wings as temperatures start to rise. Warmer temperatures give bugs the energy they need to be active. Bugs awaken from diapause—their form of hibernation—and are ready to search for food and water. This helps them execute their renovations on new nests. While springtime allows bugs to mate and breed, eggs laid before winter also hatch. A favorite part of spring for many people and bugs alike are the blooming flowers. This makes stinging insects, like bees, especially happy. They eagerly buzz toward flowers in anticipation of their sweet nectar. As the temperatures continue to rise, and become consistent, bugs embrace the summer months. Ticks and fleas thrive with plentiful vegetation for shelter and many food sources in their backyard.
Fall: I Hear You Knocking, But You Can’t Come In
When temperatures drop and pumpkin spice takes over our lives, you know fall has arrived. We love fall, but bugs don’t necessarily share our enthusiasm. The cooler temperatures warn bugs that the cold winter months are quickly approaching. While some insects, like butterflies, pack their bags for a winter-long vacation, others plan on toughing it out. Chances are these bugs will sneak into your home hoping to find a warm spot. Spiders and cockroaches are notorious for using our homes to wait out the winter storms. Though you may not see as many bugs scurrying around your yard, it’s important to not let your guard down. Fall is the best time to take action to prevent bugs from hanging out in your house. Inspect your home and make sure cracks are sealed, entry points are closed, and the no vacancy sign is lit up.
Winter: The Disappearing Act
You won’t find many bugs building snowmen. Most bugs can’t survive winter conditions, especially when temperatures are in the teens. Some summer bugs don’t want to be active with temperatures below 50 degrees. This is why they take the time to prep in the fall. To combat winter weather, bugs hide out in our homes or huddle together for warmth. Some also enter diapause—a state of inactivity where growth is paused. The cold temperatures keep insect reproduction to a minimum. This is great for those who prefer bug-free homes. However, we all know that winter likes to keep us on our toes. Sometimes temperatures don’t drop as low as we expect. When we have mild winters without freezing temperatures, bugs aren’t necessarily kept tucked away. This can lead to higher reproduction rates and maturing of insects. When this happens, more bugs pop up in the spring and earlier than anticipated. Winter can throw another curveball at bugs—inconsistent temperatures. When temperatures fluctuate, it tends to trick bugs. Periods of warmer weather make them think that spring has arrived. They start to emerge, only for temperatures to quickly drop. This leaves them stuck out in the cold. They aren’t prepared and it can be a fatal mistake.
Wet Weather: Getting Caught in the Rain
Rain, rain some bugs want it to go away. Rain can put a damper on a bug’s fun. Though bugs need water to survive, too much can cause problems. Some bugs, like honeybees, are forced to seek shelter until the rain passes. The weight of the water is too much for their wings to carry. Other bugs risk losing their homes for a little while. Ant nests can quickly become flooded after heavy rainfall. When this happens, they have to move to higher ground or even into our homes. They won’t head back outside until the rain stops and their nest dries out. While some bugs would prefer a rain-free day, others love to dance in the rain—especially mosquitoes. Mosquitoes thrive with moisture and are small enough to dodge raindrops. They also need water to lay their eggs. More moisture means more potential egg-laying spots.
Dry Weather: As in Bone Dry
Remember when bugs wished the rain away? They didn’t completely mean it. Balance is key when it comes to water. Too much can harm some bugs, but too little can be just as serious. Bugs need water to live. When the weather ends up being dry for long periods of time, bugs suffer. If they can’t find sources of water outside, they aren’t afraid to move their search indoors. Dry conditions can also harm their food supply. Plants won’t be healthy if they don’t have enough water. Just like bugs come inside for water, they will definitely sneak into our kitchens to see what food we may have left for them. When dry weather mixes with high temperatures, things get worse for bugs. They have no choice but to relocate to cooler places. You can probably guess which direction they will head—our homes. Basements and crawlspaces are the perfect places for them to find relief from the heat.
Just as weather plays a huge part in our lives, it also affects bugs. Since they can’t always have warm and humid conditions, bugs have to find alternative solutions. Unfortunately, our homes are typically their backup plan. That’s why we want to help keep your home bug-free. Check out Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective Pest Control products.