The Washington times., 1901-11-10
WINTER HOMES OF INSECTS
Little Creatures Which Hibernate
During the Cold Months.
How the Species Are Perpetu"ted'
Flies, Wasps, Hornets, and bees
Sleep Securely i'm Snug Quarters.
Bugs and Worms Resist Frost.

Bugs and Worms Resist Frost.
The myriads of insects which creep
and crawl around in the summer time,
greatly to the discomfort of vacation
lists at seashore and mountain, disap-
pear in the autumn of the year when
the leaves of the trees begin to take
on the brilliant colors which make the
glory of our American autumns. me
mystery of their sudden exit from the
scenes which they have conspicuously
occupied during the warm months mas
only in recent years been thoroughly
understood, even by scientists. Few OF
these creatures migrate with the birds
to warmer climates. They either pass
through another stage of their peculiar
metamorphosis or crawl into the ground
or under stones and trees to hibernate.
The woods and fields are tenanted in
winter time with millions of creatures
which few know anything about. They
are sleeping away the cold months.
snugly slowed away in warm places.
Others, having laid their eggs for future
generations, retire TO some quiet nook
and give up their lives.
The mosquito fingers in small num-
bers until the last of October's warm
weather, and then dies, having de-
posted thousands of eggs along the
banks of streams and sluggish ponds,
where they will be Matched out by the
early spring weather. The housefiies
creep into cracks and crevices, and
come forth occasionally even in the
middle of winter to flutter around; but
It is only the female fly that is thus
seen. The males die with the coming
of cold weather, ard the female hides
away in some safe place TO, hibernate.
She sleeps all through the winter, ex-
cept on a few warm days, when she
comes forth to exercise her wings, and
when the DAYS of new summer return
she brings forth her brood by the thou-
sands.
Likewise the wasps, bees, hornets,
and similar insects of the fields ana
woods have practically died with the
coming of winter; but if one goes forth
in the middle Of January on exception
ally warm days he may occaslonaIlS
see bees or wasps fiuttering around
These are usually the queens, which 90
not die from the effect of cold weather.
If they did their whole race would be
exterminated. In them IS wrapped up
the hopes and prospects OF the whoie
family of bees and wasps. Fully con-
scious OF this, the males in the fall OF
the year take good care to tuck away
the queens in some well protected home
hibernate without fear or danger.
Queen bees, wasps, humble bees, and
yellow Jackets may often be found IN
old logs and trees in winter In spllt-
ting up rotten trees and logs IN the
woods the hibernating creatures are
frequently brought to light. They look
for all the world like dead insects, but
the warmth of a new season will quick
ly revive them.
The great insect hosts can be divided
into those which perpetuate their
species by alternating in winter and
those which die after having laid their
eggs in the autumn The first class in
clude most of the noxious worms, bugs,
and beetles. 1t is only necessary TO lift
up old boards, stones, and trees on the
shacy side of buildings in winter months
TO ind awhole storehouse of thesehiber-
mating creatures. In these quiet places
they sleep all winter, practically freez-
ing stiff, and yet not suffering there
from The only danger they experience
is that of alternate freezing and thaw-
ing. II they hibernate in some place
where the sun could reach Them they
would never survive the winter. The
warm sun of midwinter would often
bring them TO life again. and then a /
cold wave succeeding would freeze |
them stiff the second time. Such action !
would quickly destroy their powers of
resistance, and death would soon fol-
low.
So all insects which hibernate select
some shaded place. Even the eggs and
cocoons of insects are attached to trees
or buildings on the shady sidde, where
the sun cannot reach them. They would
suffer as much as the ALTERNATING crea-
tures from the alternate action Of sun
and frost While bugs and beetles
merely crawl under logs, leaf mold, and
stones to hibernate, the grubs and
earthworms crawl down into the earth
and hide there below the frost line.
They do not emerge from their under
ground home until spring has thor
oughly set in, its warmth reaching
down even as far as their subterranean
hiding place. The ants follow the grubs
and worms, and furnish winter quart
ers for themselves and their larvae deep
down in the ground. But the ants fire.
quently wake from their sleep in mid
winter and busy themselves with their
treasures. TneiI larvae are placed in
the lowest galleries OF their homes, and
1t is necessary for them to keep an eye |
carefully on these. They must be fed
and kept warm. So through the warm |
days Of Inidwinter the ants will bring
their larvae up to the surface of the
ground TO enjoy the warm rays of the
sun, and toward night take them back
again TO the deep galleries.
The spiders are only half alternating
creatures. They do sleep a good deal
through the very cold weather. but they
are easily disturbed in their slunlbers
and awaken with all their faculties
alert They do not bury themselves in
the ground. except the trap door spider, |
which merely weaves a silken covering
inside of its underground home and |
lives there in winter as well as in sum |
mer In the winter time the trap door |
spider will often approach the mouth |
Of its home and sun itself in the en- |
trance. The ordinary field spiders be- |
gin 10 spin their winter protection in |