Warm December weather waking Manitoba bugs from winter slumber

Bugs of all shapes and sizes that would normally be hibernating are waking up this December due to Manitoba's record-setting warm weather.

"What's happening in the winter time right now, if you're an adult bug, you're as happy as can be," said Taz Stuart, an entomologist with Poulin's Pest Control Services. 

Stuart said it will be interesting to see how the warmth impacts pest species this winter.

If the temperate conditions last all winter long, Manitobans could continue to see species like forest tent caterpillars, and even wasps and bees, popping up when they would have otherwise died or went to sleep.

That list also includes the ladybug-like Asian lady bird beetle.

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"If they're sitting in a nice warm window sill where they decided to hibernate as adults, this will wake them up," Stuart said. "They may have a great over-wintering."

That also applies to rodents. Stuart said Poulin's has been receiving a high number of calls about mice lately.

"They're going to have a good winter just because it's nice and warm, they don't have to eat as much, they won't die as often," Stuart said.

If the mild weather hangs on, Stuart said next spring certain pest species could undergo population booms.

"The newer areas where the ornamental trees are available, you're going to probably see more of those groups of worms around eating and pretty much denuding your trees of leaves," Stuart said. "You might see a lot more next year."