Hibernation of Insects in the Cold

Many animals like to escape from the cold temperatures during winter, including insects. Insects have different methods for survival in the cold, which, according to the Smithsonian Institution, includes hibernation. Hibernation is the process of slowing the activity levels in order to save energy in the body, which preserves heat.

  1. Types

    • Not all insects hibernate as their way of escaping and surviving the cold. The Smithsonian Institution identifies a few insects that are infamous for hibernating during the winter. These species include lady bird beetles, a variety of large wasps, the Mourning Cloak Butterfly and honey bees. Other types of insects migrate for the winter, which involves relocating to warmer climates.

    Shelter

    • Insects that hibernate must find the appropriate means of shelter to protect themselves from the cold. Wasps and butterflies generally hide out in attics, basements or other structures. Tree holes are another shelter option and are available to adult insects. Some types of insects hide underneath rocks and logs. Honeybees gather in the honeycomb and cluster together to produce heat that keeps the colony warm. When temperatures warm up again, usually to over 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the insects come out from their shelters.

    Physical Phenomenon

    • Insects have particular physical phenomena that assist with their hibernation success. For instance, some types of larvae reduce the water content in the body in order to increase the amount of glycerol. The glycerol acts as a sort of antifreeze to keep the larvae from freezing over in cold temperatures. Wing-fanning is another physical phenomenon that helps honeybees stay warm in the winter. The movement and vibration of the worker bees' wings generates heat inside of the honeycomb.

    Inactivity

    • During the hibernation process most insects remain inactive. The inactivity allows the insects to store whatever sources of energy they have so that they do not burn energy and become too hungry. It is typical for insects to consume large quantities of food prior to hibernation so that they can rely on the food storage to last them through the winter.