Polar Vortex May Have Killed Off Numerous Invasive Species Of Insects

Halyomorpha halys, the brown marmorated stink bug

The polar vortex, which brought deadly cold weather to a large portion of the country may have been responsible for killing numerous invasive insects, including stink bugs, and southern pine beetles.

“While most insects will be equipped to survive a short period of very cold weather, like the recent polar vortex, it’s likely some will die from this extreme weather event,” Dr. Brittany Campbell, an entomologist with the NPMA, told AccuWeather.

The cold weather won't take care of all pests though. Cockroaches, ants, and mosquitoes all have coping mechanisms to survive the cold weather and are likely to have found shelter before the historic cold snap. Even if the adults did not survive, it is possible they already laid their eggs, which will hatch in the spring when the weather warms up.

Photo: Getty Images


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