Where do bugs go in the winter?

The simple answer is – it depends on the bug. Bugs slow down as temperatures drop and are unable to actively function below 40 degrees. Some bugs die off in the winter, such as male mosquitoes and all but the fertilized queens in predator bee colonies, such as wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets. Some migrate to warmer climates, such as the Monarch butterfly. Some bugs overwinter in several states of diapause, a physiological dormancy that occurs at any stage of an insect’s development, while some bugs hibernate. Ants eat more food in preparation for winter, hibernating under the soil. Some bugs, such as honeybees, overwinter in a semi-active state in tree stumps and holes, keeping their hives warm by worker bees that generate body heat oxidizing thirty pounds of stored honey via the beating of worker bee wings. Some bugs can convert the water in their bodies to glycerol which acts as antifreeze to keep them from freezing during the winter. Flies hibernate in larval and pupal stages under manure and other organic matter. Most cockroaches, as resilient as they are, cannot survive below 15 degrees Fahrenheit and move into crawl spaces and other dark, warm spaces in homes. Brown recluse spiders become inactive at 44 degrees Fahrenheit and black widow spiders overwinter in secluded spaces in buildings or outdoor shelters. However, in West Florida, temperatures are mild enough for some bugs to stay active all year round.

Because bugs can remain active all year long in West Florida, it’s important to monitor for pest activity all year long. To make sure bugs don’t enter your home or business any time of the year, you’ll want to rely on the pest control services of a local bug expert such as Pestwise. Family-owned and operated since 1965, Pestwise technicians are well-versed in the bugs that plague homes and businesses in Clearwater and Palm Beach Counties. Request a free pest inspection today!