Severe Winter Temperatures Won’t Stop Georgia Insects
UGA Extension entomologist, Elmer Gray, recently wrote an article explaining why the severe winter weather that we’ve experienced in Georgia, and surrounding states, won’t slow down the insect population. In fact, he explains that spring temperatures and moisture conditions will have a far greater effect on insect populations than winter weather. Some insects will die due to the severe weather but most will survive.
Gray explains that insects, having been around for over 300 million years, are adaptive creatures. They are highly adaptable to their surroundings and can survive in extreme conditions. Many insects also overwinter. In the case of insects, overwintering is basically how they survive during the winter months (or how they receive their basic needs). Many insects go through physiological changes that help them survive cold temperatures.
The main concern for insects is that they avoid ice crystals to form inside of their body.
To read the full article, click HERE.