does this warm winter in the northeast mean we will a heavy influx of insects this summer?

Question

i would like a scientific answer..........does the winter weather really matter on how our summers develope especially with inscets and crop diseases

Answer 1

Scientific ... yes, you will. Unless you experience a good strecth of hard feeze (such as 6 weeks), you are looking at a greater flea and tick season. Flies, as you know, live in a larval state for too short a time for this to matter to them. However, all those pesky no-see-ums, such as gnats, whiteflies, and chiggers, will be out in full force. That said, you must understand that nature has faced this issue before. You can therefore expect more birds than usual, more snakes, more bats, etc. It's not that they will have greater numbers reproduced. Instead, more babies will live into the summer due to the ample food supply.

As far as diseases are concerned, the cold weather does inhibit the spread of viruses, bacteria, and molds, However, concerning crop diseases, it is more a reflection of the particular disease itself (and how it was handled the prior year) whether it will infest the crop this year.

Answer 2

Not only do temperatures influence the survival of insects, but, perhaps more importantly is precipitation. If spring comes early, and there's little or too much rain to maintain the wetland areas where insects thrive, the insects spring cycle will be disturbed and their populations reduced. I've seen spring weather that was very dry and had a lot less black flies, gnats, etc... Likewise I've seen heavy flooding that destroyed and washed away their habitat. If there is normal or near average precipitation along with temperatures and cloud cover that prohibit wetlands from being dried out too fast, insects will thrive.
As far as winter weather affecting the following summer and growing season - it's all relative. A lot a factors come into play, and you have to look at global weather patterns and how weather patterns and global events (volcanos, el nino, etc...) can affect weather where you are. Over millions of years, the weather can severely effect how the "summers develop" each year, but there is an average that tends to moderate things from year to year and allow species to survive and thrive.

Answer 3

As far as insects go, we will likely have lots. The warm winter usually means an early spring which means less insect larva/egg die off thereby more buggies to mate and make MORE buggies. The moisture will also add to an increase in successful hatchings and such. As far as crops go, the lack of freezing means more mould growth and other such things plus without a snowpack, we are likely to have a possible water problem for crops as more water is running off into tributaries rather than soaking slowly into the ground and thereby recharging aquifers.

Then again, I hate snow..

Answer 4

It could in the north the hard freezes tend to kill off the some of the bug populations. There is still alot of winter left so a cold march may help knock down the bug population

Answer 5

Yes, we are highly likely to have a much larger population of insects without the extreme cold to kill off part of the populations.

Also be aware that this applies to fleas and ticks and mosquitos, so if you have pets, make sure you have the proper preventatives for them, including heartworm meds.

Personally, I'm dreading the caterpillers on my plants and the chiggers on me!

Answer 6

No doubt about it . I already have flies around the house and I live in SW Pa. I am ready for some cold freezing weather to kill the germs and flu viruses , how bout you ?

Answer 7

Normally it does, as it must get the a certain degree of coldness and stay there to kill the eggs of insects.

Answer 8

That is indeed possible. A good hard freeze does kill off some pests, and warmer climates may indeed attract species that normally live further south.