The hum and buzz of insects in fields and gardens are familiar sounds in summer. Insects may be quieter in winter but most insects have not gone that far away.
Some insects like termites are active all year long. That can be a problem for people who own houses since these insects like to bore into wood all year around.
There are some insects that are only seen when it gets cold. The snow flea is one of these insects. Snow fleas are not true fleas but they like the snow and they jump like fleas.
Most insects don’t like the cold weather, though. Insects cannot make their own heat, which means that they can freeze when they get too cold. Insects need to get heat from the environment. In that way, insects are like snakes. Unlike snakes, insects are very small. To stay alive, different kinds of insects do different things.
Some insects spend the winter as caterpillars or eggs. They appear as adults in the spring. Ants store food underground during the summer. They can spend the winter under the ground, where it’s not as cold.
Other insects rest during the winter. These insects don’t go to sleep for long periods like bears. Rather, insects like ladybugs gather in groups on or under the bark of trees. Honeybees also stay close together in their hives. When it gets cold, bees move their wings very fast to make heat.
Many kinds of butterflies fly to warmer places for the winter. But when it is spring again, insects are back and busy.
