HOW INSECTS SURVIVE COLD TEMPERATURES
Winter may send us running for fuzzy blankets and hot cocoa, but for bugs, surviving the cold is a bit more complicated. Since insects are ectotherms—meaning they rely on external sources for heat—they have to get creative when temperatures drop. When their body fluids freeze, it's game over, so they've developed some seriously impressive survival strategies to make it through the winter chill.
The Freeze Fighters vs. The Freeze Endurers
When it comes to winter survival, insects fall into two camps: freeze-avoidant and freeze-tolerant species.Freeze-avoidant insects pull out all the stops to keep their body fluids from freezing. They produce natural antifreeze compounds, reduce water content in their bodies, and seek out warm, insulated hideouts.
Freeze-tolerant insects, on the other hand, are like tiny ice warriors—they can survive even with ice forming inside their bodies! They carefully control where ice forms, ensuring that vital organs stay frost-free.
Location, Location, Location!
Where an insect lives plays a big role in its winter survival plan. Most bugs in the northern hemisphere (think North America and Europe) use freeze avoidance to keep their fluids from turning into bugcicles. Meanwhile, their southern hemisphere counterparts (in places like South America and Australia) tend to embrace freeze tolerance, allowing their bodies to partially freeze and thaw without harm.Buggy Antifreeze and Cozy Warmups
Some insects have built-in antifreeze to help them withstand the cold. They produce special proteins and sugars that lower their freezing point, keeping their fluids liquid even in subzero temperatures. Others reduce their body's water content to minimize the risk of ice formation.The Power of the Swarm
Not all bugs go it alone. Honey bees are the winter survival MVPs, huddling together in a buzzing mass and generating heat by consuming stored honey—basically, the insect equivalent of a warm bonfire. This group effort keeps the entire hive warm, even when the world outside is frozen solid.
INSECTS OVERWINTER: MIGRATION PATTERNS
While some of us bundle up in layers and brace for the cold, certain insects take a different approach to winter survival—they hit the road! Just like snowbirds who escape to Florida for the season, many insects migrate to warmer climates to avoid freezing temperatures and food shortages.
The Ultimate Snowbirds: Monarch Butterflies
Perhaps the most famous insect migration belongs to monarch butterflies, who take an incredible journey south every fall. These delicate yet determined flyers travel thousands of miles from the northern United States and Canada to Mexico's oyamel fir forests or warm regions of California. Scientists even believe that monarchs use the Earth's magnetic field and the position of the sun to navigate—nature's built-in GPS!Short-Distance Movers: The Local Snow Dodgers
Not all migrating insects travel far. Some, like the mourning cloak butterfly, take a more practical approach by relocating to basements, sheds, garages, and even tree bark crevices to wait out the cold. These overwintering insects find hidden, insulated spaces where temperatures stay just warm enough to keep them alive until spring.Why Migrate? It's a Matter of Survival
Insects migrate for two main reasons:Escaping the cold - Most insects aren't built to withstand freezing temperatures, so heading somewhere warm is their best option.
Finding food - When winter wipes out nectar-filled flowers and leafy greens, migrating insects seek new sources of nourishment in milder climates.
Planned Routes and Pit Stops
Insect migrations aren't just random flights of fancy. Many species have well-established routes and destinations that their ancestors have followed for generations. Monarch butterflies, for example, take the same path every year, with some even returning to the exact trees their great-grandparents rested on the previous winter!
While migration is an impressive winter survival strategy, not all insects have wings to carry them on a journey. That's where your home comes into play. Pests need a place to keep warm through the colder months, and the cracks and crevices around your home give them ample opportunity to get inside and take advantage of your cozy home.
DIAPAUSE: A STATE OF DORMANCY
While some insects escape the cold through migration, others take a different approach: hitting the pause button on life. Instead of braving freezing temperatures, these bugs enter a dormant state, slowing down their metabolism and essentially waiting out the winter like tiny, six-legged hibernators.
Diapause is an insect's version of pressing "pause" on development. When temperatures drop and food sources become scarce, insects sense the shift in seasons and shut things down, often finding refuge in or around your home where they can get some warmth, plus have easy access to things like food and water.
WHERE INSECTS HIBERNATE DURING WINTER
When winter rolls in, insects don't just disappear—they find clever hideouts to wait out the cold. Some, like honey bees, hibernate as adults in their hives, forming tight clusters to generate warmth. Others, like ladybird beetles (ladybugs), seek shelter in tree holes, under logs, within leaf litter, or even inside wall voids.
To survive frigid temperatures, insects gravitate toward protected sites, such as under bark, in rock crevices, or buried beneath soil and organic debris. Many species hibernate in groups, using collective body heat to stay warm and conserve energy.
Once temperatures rise in the spring, these hidden hibernators wake up and reemerge, ready to kick-start their life cycles and reclaim their outdoor territory. Until then, they remain tucked away, silently waiting for nature's alarm clock to ring!
This is exactly why winter is such a great time for pest control. Pests cluster together, and their centralized pattern allows pest professionals to easily target the entire infestation. When they are all gathered together, treatments are often more effective than when pests are active and spread out all around your property.
COMMON WINTER PESTS: INSECTS THAT REMAIN ACTIVE
Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean all pests take a winter break. While many insects go dormant or migrate, some unwelcome critters remain active year-round, using your home as their personal winter retreat.
Mice and Rats - Though not insects, these furry freeloaders are among the most common winter pests. As temperatures drop, rodents seek warmth, food, and shelter indoors, nesting in attics, basements, and wall voids. They can chew through wires, contaminate food, and spread disease, making them a serious winter pest concern.
Flies and Cockroaches - While most outdoor insects slow down in the cold, houseflies and cockroaches can still thrive indoors where warmth and food are readily available. Cockroaches, in particular, are experts at hiding in dark, humid areas, making them tough to spot until an infestation is well underway.
Spiders - Many spider species remain active in winter, hiding in quiet corners, basements, and storage areas. While most house spiders are harmless, their presence can be unsettling, and some species—like the brown recluse—pose a greater concern.
Silverfish and Earwigs - These creepy crawlies love damp, undisturbed areas, making bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms prime real estate. Since they feed on paper, fabrics, and even pantry goods, they can cause gradual damage if left unchecked.
Winter may offer a temporary break from mosquitoes and outdoor ants, but indoor pests are still a major concern. Ignoring them now could lead to bigger infestations come spring!
WHY WINTER PEST CONTROL MATTERS
While pests might seem less active in the winter, they haven't disappeared—they've simply moved in. This makes winter the best time for pest control, as insects and rodents are centralized indoors, making them easier to target and eliminate. Instead of dealing with a full-blown infestation in the spring, proactive pest control now can help prevent costly damage and stress later.
At Greenix, we don't take a seasonal break from protecting your home. Our expert team provides year-round pest control solutions, ensuring that whether it's snowing outside or warming up for spring, your home remains pest-free. Contact Greenix today to schedule your winter pest inspection and stop winter invaders in their tracks!
