Observation of the world of insects: where are butterflies and mosquitoes hidden for the winter?

With the onset of autumn colds, each of us notices that insects on the street are getting smaller and smaller. Many of us think that they are dying. Some suggest that flying insects are hibernating, but still, let's figure out where the butterflies and mosquitoes hide for the winter. The answer to this question you will find in our article. And also learn interesting facts from the life of these amazing insects.

Mosquitoes in the autumn period

It is known that as soon as the summer heat is replaced by the September cooling, the number of mosquitoes on the street is sharply reduced. As is known, a large part of these insects perishes after laying off the first eggs. Those mosquitoes that survived, looking for a comfortable place, where you can easily overwinter. These blood-sucking insects in autumn and winter can be found in the bark of dry trees and hollows, in grass, moss, burrows, various deep caves and so on. Winter cold they carry without any difficulties at any stage of development, no matter whether it's an adult, a larva or a pupa. Mosquitoes in the cellar or cellar will calmly overwinter, and as soon as summer warm days come, they will leave the shelter and go hunting.

Diapause in the life of mosquitoes

We are approaching the answer to the question of where butterflies and mosquitoes are hiding for the winter. The winter period in the life of these insects is called diapause. In this segment of life bloodsucking scribes do not eat, and if this does not happen, then the individual can not and multiply. But there are exceptions! If mosquitoes hibernate in the damp and warm cellars of private or multi-storey houses, they are still active. Adult individuals find food for themselves, thanks to this the process of reproduction continues, and they lay eggs. Therefore, if you go down to the cellar for potatoes, you will meet a mosquito even in the most severe January frosts. Now you know where winter mosquitoes are.

Butterflies in winter

These wonderful creatures were less fortunate than mosquitoes. The thing is that the butterfly's age is very short. In nature, there are species that die after several hours after exiting the pupa stage. Some live a little longer - about a day. Butterflies, able to survive the winter, are very rare! As a rule, these are large-winged insects, they appear in the autumn. Butterflies are referred to a group of Lepidoptera, for them the main way to carry winter is the pupa stage. Their small cocoon can be found in secluded places, namely in plants and grass, as well as in fallen leaves.

But there are also cases when a cocoon is attached to a tree branch. There are species of butterflies that hibernate in the adult stage. These include butterflies of lemongrasses. They can be found under the bark of a tree. In a hard and frosty time, the lemon grass falls into anabiosis, that is, it is in hibernation. During this period the butterfly does not develop. It is known that spring and summer do not come immediately, but gradually. In the period of an easy thaw, the butterfly wakes up, but it is no longer able to survive the next cold snap. Thus, a butterfly lemongrass perishes. Now you know where the butterflies and mosquitoes hide for the winter.

Anxiety of scientists

Over the past few decades, experts have concluded that a huge number of butterflies leave their natural habitat. They fly to big cities. This is due to the fact that urban objects radiate heat, which attracts Lepidoptera. They settle in basements, on roofs of houses and factories. In view of the fact that the butterfly does not fall into anabiosis, it soon dies. These facts worry scientists more and more.

Butterflies bring tremendous benefits to the world of flora. They are on the second place after pollination of plants after bees! Did you know that a butterfly feels the taste of food only when it is on it ?! The thing is that the taste buds of Lepidoptera are on their paws!

Our article has come to an end. You learned where butterflies and mosquitoes hide for the winter, and what happens to insects in the cold season.