Here Come the Bugs!

Living as I do at a temperate latitude, there is one thing about Winter I DO like very much:

No bugs.

Yes, with the advent of chilly weather in the Fall, we see fewer and fewer insects until that magic number — 32 degrees —- is reached and things start to freeze.

And the bugs go away (mostly).

But along comes Spring, and those pesky creatures begin to drift back into our lives for another 7-8 months.

Yes, I’m talking about gnats, flies, ants and mosquitoes. Those little varmints that can spoil a fishing afternoon, a picnic, or about anything held outdoors between April and November.

But have you ever wondered WHERE these tiny tormentors go in the Winter?

Neither did I, until recently. With Spring now unfolding all around me, I’ve become aware that these insects are coming back to annoy me through an otherwise nice time of year.

But from where do they come? Well, let me elaborate...

First, let’s take gnats — you know, those swarms of flying insects that can attack you when you’re trying to take a nice Spring walk.

For me, gnats are usually the first annoying insect to appear on the Spring scene. But actually, they’ve probably been surviving and reproducing all Winter by infesting grocery store trash and other food service refuse.

Not keeping your home trash covered — or emptying it frequently enough — can also encourage gnat infestations.

And then there’s those nasty flies trying to get into your house when Spring returns. But where have they been all Winter?

Well, when it gets cold, flies hide in any warm place they can find. But it's actually ultimately fruitless for any fly, as none will outlive its four-week lifespan.

To survive the Winter, flies have ingeniously evolved to lay their eggs in the Fall with an expected hatching in the Winter. The tough baby fly larvae take 2-3 months to become adult flies. By then, it’s warmer and survivable.

Let’s not forget ants, the insect world’s most industrious and cooperative species as they go about building their nests and anthills --- dirt-speck-by-dirt-speck.

Ants in Winter may be right under your feet, taking refuge in your home's floors and walls. They can also survive outside in sheds and garages.

Some ants will build their nests under large rocks that are heated by the sun through the day and slowly release that heat at night, keeping the temperature of the nest warmer than the surrounding soil.

Ants may also take shelter in decaying leaves, which generate small amounts of heat as they rot. Leaves also provide some shelter from rain and snow and can provide an insulating layer against the cold.

Certain types of ants will hide under the bark on trees. The bark provides some shelter and enough insulation to protect the ants from the cold.

Finally, let’s consider everyone’s favorite insect: The Mosquito.

During Winter, mosquitoes go into a hibernation-like state and hide somewhere secure, including under tree bark, inside hollow logs, in home crawlspaces, under tree roots, inside animal burrows, and inside buildings.

But before that, mosquitoes lay eggs that — unfortunately for humanity — are very hardy and can often survive through Winter.

Mosquitoes will typically return in the Spring when the weather stays above 50 degrees.

I guess there’s not much we can do to prevent another annual Insect Invasion as cold weather gives way to warm.

So fix those window screens, load up on bug spray and get ready to do battle one more time.

Or maybe move to someplace “bug-free”?