Insects Hibernate Too

Now that the evenings are remaining above freezing, insects are waking up after a long winter's rest. Most of us don't give much thought to what happens to bugs in the winter, we just enjoy the fact that with that first hard frost, we can be outside day or night without having to apply insect repellant.

Now that the evenings are staying above freezing, moths have returned to the porch light over the door. And, when I was hiking this past weekend, I was treated by a Compton Tortoise Shell butterfly in my path. It got me thinking about where it had been all winter.

We are all aware of the great migrations of Monarchs, but they aren't the only butterflies that migrate to warmer climates in the fall. Others include the Painted Lady and the Buckeye. But what about other insects, how do they survive the winter? Some insect life cycles are timed such that eggs are laid in the fall and then when the weather warms the following year they hatch to begin the cycle anew. Some will try and find warmer shelter, such as your house (e.g. certain flies and ladybugs). Others will dig deep underground (e.g. beetles and grubs.) In order to survive the winter, many insects are able to enter a state of hibernation with the help of built in survival tools. Many butterflies and moths will overwinter in various stages, either as eggs, larvae or in a chrysalis. And a few species are able to hibernate as adults. Among these are the Mourning Cloak and the Tortoise Shell (pictured above) which will find a spot under the bark of a tree or fallen log.  They can survive the freezing temperatures by creating a natural antifreeze, called glycerol.  These adult hibernators will be the first butterflies to emerge in early spring where they will be looking for a mate. Seeing one this early in the year is a pleasure.