Warm Winter Could Mean More Bugs
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Most West Tennesseans are enjoying the warmer than normal winter that just ended, but some residents are already talking about seeing more insects. Experts said the lack winter and extremely warm March is allowing for insects to become even more active, earlier. Entomologists said fire ants, spiders and some wasps have already been seen, appearing about a month early. The early start means a chance for the production of more bugs. “Really what happens from here on depends a lot on, you know, weather, we have,” said Scott Stewart, a UT Extension entomologist. “Whether we have extended dry period which can have just as much impact on insect populations as the cold temperatures. “You know mother nature could re-start the clock if we had a couple of hard freezes, but you know they’ve clearly gotten and early start, I think anybody that was out in their yard this last weekend may have fought a few mosquitoes and we’re seeing things earlier than usual.” Weather experts said we could still have a freeze with the traditional last freeze dates well into April in Tennessee.
