It’s been hot and muggy in North Texas. But is it about to get…buggy?
You’ve probably noticed insects buzzing around on your hike or even hanging around your garden. But are we seeing more this summer with the heatwave?
Alison Ravenscraft, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Texas at Arlington, said the short answer is yes. But it depends.
Insects are cold-blooded, and rising temperatures help them to live and reproduce faster, according to Ravenscraft.
So it should be expected that bug populations will increase in the summer. Which is what we usually see.
She’s noticed an increased number of bugs in her own research on leaf-footed bugs, a stink bug relative. Over the last few years, when summers have been hot and dry, leaf-footed bugs seemed to decrease just to the south of North Texas.
But this year, the population has increased again. She thinks it’s due to both the hot and wet conditions, including the storms we saw in the spring.
Ravenscraft also pointed to a study published in Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata in 2020 that suggested the egg production of houseflies can increase in warmer temperatures.
Mosquitoes benefit from heat and rain
According to Gene Kritsky, a retired professor of biology from the University of Cincinnati, mosquitoes are also benefiting from the summer heat and recent rains. Kritsky noted that some cicada populations in the Midwest appeared almost two weeks early, breaking records that stood for more than 200 years.
If temperatures stay above 71 degrees Fahrenheit, mosquitoes can produce eggs more quickly, according to Kritsky. They can potentially produce another generation within the span of eight days. The standing water from storms can also be ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, Kritsky said.
He said the incoming rain from Hurricane Beryl could lead to more standing water, leading to more mosquitoes.
There may also be an uptick in ticks and chiggers that can make hikes into the deep woods a nuisance, Kritsky said. He recommended using insect repellent with DEET, an active chemical used to repel insects, to protect against biting insects outdoors.
But should we be expecting more insects in our houses this summer?
There isn’t a large body of research to suggest insects prefer being inside when temperatures increase above the average. Or at least, Ravenscraft said, no research she has seen suggests this.
Tips to avoid insects
To reduce the presence of bugs, Ravenscraft suggested using basic hygiene practices. That means sealing cracks, cleaning up regularly and protecting food and produce by using containers and mesh to create a barrier to insects.
For outdoor activities like cookouts, Kritsky recommended using a few large fans. This helps protect against mosquitoes as they are attracted to higher temperatures and the carbon dioxide humans give off. The fans help keep you cool while moving the carbon dioxide in the air away.
Lights can also attract bugs, so Kritsky recommended dimming them or turning them off at night so insects don’t accidentally enter your home.
Both Ravenscraft and Kritsky recommended against using pesticides — outside or indoors. Pesticides can be damaging to insects we depend on, like bees, which pollinate plants. Similarly, pesticides can affect spiders and other creatures that can help keep insect populations in check.
Repellents can be used outside, but Ravenscraft suggested using localized traps and baits inside. Baits can be helpful as insects like ants and roaches can take them back to their nests, reducing populations at the source.
Fear of insects
Ravenscraft emphasized that most insects are harmless, though she understands the fear. In fact, her fear when she was 2 years old sparked her career path. Ravenscraft’s dad decided to get her an insect field book to help her learn more about bugs and stop her from running into the house when she saw one.
“It turns out fear is often related to not understanding something and once you understand it, you get really excited about it,” she said. “And so I never stopped being excited about insects.”
Jordan Chapman reports on science for The Dallas Morning News as part of a fellowship with the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
CORRECTION, 9:06 p.m., July 10, 2024: Texas researcher Alison Ravenscraft studies leaf-footed bugs. An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the focus of her research.