Winter affects all creatures differently. Bears hibernate in the winter; geese and Monarch butterflies migrate south; rabbits carry on as usual due to their insulated coats. But what do pests do? How does the first frost affect pests?
Today, we’re covering what happens to pests after the first frost happens and winter sets in. Keep reading to learn more—so you know what pests you still need to look out for!
How Does the First Frost Affect Pests?
The first frost is, to put it simply, the first time in the year that the temperature drops below 32 degrees. As a result, you’ll see a layer of frost (a thin layer of ice) on the ground.
The first frost signals the end of the growing season for gardeners and the imminent arrival of winter.
While many believe that the first frost kills off all pests, that’s a myth. In fact, lowering temperatures leading up to the first frost prompt many pests to seek warmer shelter (like your home!). Even a quick frost won’t kill all pest populations. That means, at the first frost, some pests die and others are already safely sheltered from the cold.
What Happens to Pests after the First Frost?
The first frost and the onset of winter affect pests differently. It depends on the pest, but one of three things will happen:
- The pest dies off
- The pest overwinters or enters diapause
- The pest continues to be active in winter
Pests that Die Off in Winter
Some pests—like certain mosquitoes, bees, and wasps—die off in winter.
Bees, for example, will mostly die off, depending on the species of bee. Male honeybees die, while the queen and female workers survive the winter huddled together. In the base of bumblebees and mason bees, all the adult bees die off, leaving behind their eggs to emerge in spring.
Pests like mosquitoes and wasps die off, leaving behind their eggs as well.
Pests that Go Dormant
Other pests go dormant in the winter by entering an insect form of hibernation known as “diapause.” Many people often assume these pests have died off because they don’t see them; however, that’s not the case.
Diapause allows them to go through winter unscathed. Diapause is a hibernation-like state for insects. The insect develops glycerol—a type of “natural antifreeze” in its body, which allows it to freeze in the winter and then thaw come spring. Certain species of mosquito eggs, for example, use diapause to survive through winter and hatch in spring.
Other pests survive winter by “overwintering.”
Overwintering involves finding a warm place to ride out the winter. Some insects—like ants and termites—burrow underground where it’s warmer to escape the cold. Others seek out tall grass, leaves, mulch, logs, and other debris, since these also provide shelter from winter’s harsh weather.
Sometimes, overwintering pests seek out your home, which can be a big problem!
Common overwintering pests include Asian lady beetles and stink bugs.
Active Pests in Winter
Finally, some pests carry on as usual in the winter. Like overwintering pests, they’ll seek out warmth and safety—but they also continue to search for food.
Active pests include rodents like mice and rats, cockroaches, bed bugs, and termites. These are the pests to look out for in winter! Because these pests are still active, you might find them in your home.
Do You Need Winter Pest Control?
Many homeowners feel a false sense of security in winter. They believe that all pests die off in winter and that they don’t need to watch out for pest problems. But as you now know—that’s not true!
It’s important to be on the lookout for pests during the winter season. You might get bed bugs from a holiday traveler staying in your home. You might have termites in your walls, quietly destroying your home. You might find cockroaches sneaking in to enjoy your home’s warmth and abundance of food. By staying vigilant for pests, you can prevent a major infestation from growing right under your nose.
If you find yourself in need of pest control during the winter, ScherZinger Pest Control can help!
Contact Scherzinger Pest Control, a trusted pest control company in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, including Dayton, OH, and now Columbus, OH. We’ve been pioneers, engineering new standards for ways of eliminating and controlling bugs and pests. Contact us by phone at 1-877-748-9888 or through our website, Facebook, or Twitter.
