When the snow begins to fall and water begins to freeze, where do bugs go? This is a common question among children, teens, and even adults. Unlike bears who hibernate in the winter, bugs find their own unique ways to survive.
To begin with beauty, butterflies have already migrated south during the brisk fall. Monarch Butterflies migrate as far South as they can, usually either Mexico or Florida. This is because butterflies need nectar to survive, which will not be found in the North. Butterflies also need warm temperatures to fly so their wings don’t freeze. Soon-to-be butterflies spend the winter as pupae. The pupa is the stage when caterpillars transition into butterflies. Caterpillars stay inside a shell throughout the winter, morphing into a beautiful butterfly.
Unfortunately for humans, many insects stay in homes to survive. Cockroaches are the perfect example of unwanted indoor insects. Most cockroaches cannot survive less than 15 degrees Fahrenheit. So, places like basements or small crawl spaces offer the perfect environment for them. This could be dangerous for humans since cockroaches can carry disease, providing sicknesses like diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, plague, and typhoid fever. To prevent cockroaches from entering homes, spraying pine sol keeps them away.
Similar to cockroaches, spiders will find a home in your home. Wolf spiders and Salticidie spiders tend to find shelter indoors due to the cold. They can be found hiding in cracks, corners, or simply under furniture. Spiders that remain outside attempt to hide under tree bark or rocks. This is possible because spiders produce an anti-freezing substance that prevents them from freezing.
Lastly, the most common insects, ants, live in underground burrows. The colonies that ants build throughout the year become sealed off. This is why ants collect food, to store them in their closed-off colony. Once temperatures warm up, ants dig out of their tunnels and begin researching for food.
Bugs are not so different from humans after all. Like bugs, people stay inside and migrate. Especially depending on location, when it snows or drops to freezing temperatures people generally stay inside. They stay warm, safe, and full of food. People also migrate to warmer areas. There are many rental homes and properties in places like Florida that people use. This especially occurs around holidays like Christmas. Humans will do anything to be comfortable and safe, just like bugs.