It’s easy to assume that insects don’t survive the winter, as we see far fewer of them. However, insects are still with us, taking refuge in soil, trees, plants, nooks and crannies, and, for many species, they have some other ingenious ways of making it through the colder months.

Hibernating insects

We’re familiar with hibernation for mammals – the ability to slow down their metabolism and sleep through the winter.

Some insects have a similar process, called diapause, where adults become dormant and lie hidden in leaf litter, beneath stones, or even in the bark of trees. Examples include queen bees and wasps, and some species of butterfly.

The cue for diapause to begin is the shorter days as autumn turns to winter.

One of my favourite butterflies is the speckled wood, which was still visible in our garden into November. This beautiful butterfly survives the winter either in a larval state, as a caterpillar, or in the pupal stage as a chrysalis.

Larvae and pupae will be hidden in leaf litter or often on plant stems.

A small number of butterflies spend the winter as adults, including small tortoiseshell and peacock. They’ll find a hiding spot for colder days but may appear on warmer days.

It’s possible that butterflies find their way into your house and assume it’s the perfect place to spend the winter. As the weather cools, they enter their hibernation-like state, but they may be tricked into thinking spring has arrived when our heating is turned on. 

For species of blue butterfly, they use an interesting relationship with ants that helps them to make it through the winter. When caterpillars first hatch in summer they feed on leaves but, as they grow, their tastes change. The caterpillars drop to the floor and produce a sugary liquid that attracts the ants. By mimicking an ant larva, they fool the ants into carrying the caterpillar down into their nest. Once inside, they feed on ant grubs until they’re fully grown. They are then able to spend the winter safe and warm inside the ant’s nest. In spring, they emerge from the pupa and the adult ventures back outside.

Huddling for warmth

Insects such as ladybirds and honeybees will huddle together for warmth, spending most of their time in a semi-dormant state.

The hives of wild honeybees survive from year to year. Whilst most of the worker bees die before winter, the queen and some workers stay active. They will huddle together and ‘shiver’ which generates heat and warms the hive.

For insects that live in ponds, the warmest spot is near the bottom. Species such as dragonflies spend the first few years of their life cycle as nymphs and will lurk in the silt at the bottom of the pond.

Helping insects in winter

A garden with nature in mind will help insects throughout the year. Flowering plants, ponds, and wild areas all provide food and valuable habitat for insects to thrive.

For solitary bees, bug hotels can provide a great spot for them and other insects to survive the winter.

In our garden, we leave the fallen fruit and leaves from our apple tree which provides places for insects to feed and hide in the cold months.