Have you ever wondered how many Midwestern insects manage to survive the winter? There is a number of bugs that are surviving despite the cold and harsh conditions. What follows is a list of some of those insects, along with a brief description of their survival strategies!
European Honey Bees:Just like all the other bees, these insects build hives. Their homes are sturdy enough to last through the winter, which is why European honey bees use them as shelter.
Asian Lady Beetles:Although they don’t build their own hives, Asian lady beetles manage to survive the winter by finding shelter. They keep in groups to make sure they stay warm.
Northern House Mosquitoes: This type of mosquito is a resourceful one, and thus capable of surviving harsh winter conditions. It does this by locating protected sites that need to be humid as well.
Bean Leaf Beetles: Bean leaf beetles are of an individualistic kind. As soon as the cold starts kicking in, each bug finds a safe space under layers of leafs and snow.
Japanese Beetles: In order to survive the winter, these beetles dig even deeper. They are usually found under covers of both soil and snow.
Codling Moths: If you thought moths were too fragile to last a Midwestern winter, you were wrong! There is one species that manages to survive by hiding under bark.
Emerald Ash Borers: As soon as winter starts baring its teeth, emerald ash borers start looking for a cozy spot that could keep them protected. It’s usually under bark.
Mountain Pine Beetles: These bugs do it just like the previous two – by hiding under tree bark. They are, however, the most resistant to cold, since they can survive at temperatures as low as -31 °F.
Gypsy Moths: This is yet another moth species that can survive the winter. But instead of hiding under tree bark, they find their shelter on it.
Forest Tent Caterpillars: These bugs have the same strategy as the gypsy moths – they survive the cold by sticking onto tree bark. They’ll stay alive as long as the temperature doesn’t drop below -22 °F.
Soybean Aphids: In order to protect themselves from the cold, soybean aphids seek shelter in tree bark and on buckthorn, or more specifically, near the plant’s leaf buds.
Goldenrod Gall Fies: These creatures have even been named after the plant they use as shelter. During the cold winter months, they hide in the stems of goldenrods.