Effects of the Cold Snap on Summer Bugs

Описание: HAMILTON COUNTY, Ohio (Josh Knight) -- For many of us watching the morning news and getting a glimpse of that temperature below freezing we think, Please no, not again! But could there be some benefits to the freezing weather? Of course it means bundling up and heading back out into the frozen tundra of the tri-state, just as students did at the College of Mount St. Joe. We can bundle up, but we talked with Dr. Gene Kritzsky, an Entomologist, about what it means for insects and pests that can't add on extra layers. In a short phrase, he says life finds a way. If our winter hangs on and we have a late spring the mosquito season will also start later, but it's still going to happen. There is some evidence to show these extreme cold temperatures could help control the Emerald Ash Borer, a non native species. Some of these lower temperatures may be killing the Emerald Ash Borer. Unfortunately, it also kills parasites that we have been releasing to kill the Emerald Ash Borer and kills them at a greater rate. So it wont take care of all of them but it might slow that spread for awhile.Dr. Kritsky was showing me even though the temperature might be near zero, in the nooks of some tree bark in the sun he has measured temperatures into the 50's. Some species lay their eggs and larvae on the south side of trees just for that reason. One other bit of good news, if you find bed bugs inside they can't handle the cold. If you can get them outside it will kill them.