HOW WEATHER AFFECTS INSECTS
Find out how outdoor temperatures and rain levels affect insects, including their behavior, reproduction rates, feeding habits, and more. Plus, learn what weather conditions drive bugs inside for shelter.
HOW DOES THE TEMPERATURE AFFECT INSECTS?
Insects are cold-blooded creatures that can’t produce their own body heat. This means the temperature of their surroundings plays an important role in their growth, development, and behavior.1 Find out how temperature affects insects and why temperature fluctuations can lead to indoor bug infestations.
COLD WEATHER
• Insects adapt to cooler temperatures by migrating to warmer weather, finding a place to hibernate, or seeking shelter, which can range from burying themselves underground to invading our homes in search of warmth
• Spiders, ladybugs, boxelder bugs, and American cockroaches are just a few common bugs that make their way indoors as temperatures begin to drop.
• When the weather turns cool, many insects become sluggish. After a cold night, grasshoppers are often too stiff to hop until the sun warms them up again. And some flying insects are unable to move their wings fast enough to fly when the temperature drops.
HOT WEATHER
• With the exception of the tropics, insect reproductive rates typically increase in warmer months, which is why you see more bugs when the temperature rises.
• As temperatures increase, so do the metabolic rates of insects, which means they need to eat more to survive. Thus, bugs can invade homes looking for a tasty snack or you may notice increased insect damage to your garden during warmer months.
