Insects not going away
New Jersey residents wonder why so many unseasonable species are hanging around
By: Amanda Wallace
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... Over the past few weeks, you may have noticed some unseasonable insects flying around, especially on the warm fall days that when have been having in New Jersey. Maybe you were swarmed by gnats on your daily walk or heard the chirping of crickets outside of your window as if it were a warm summer evening and not an evening in November. You're not alone, as several insect species that would typically be gone by now are hanging around due to warm weather.
..... "Most insects in New Jersey like gnats and mosquitoes lay their last batch of eggs in late summer/early fall and then just kind of 'hang out' until a hard frost, which kills them," said Matthew Aardema, associate professor in the Department of Biology at Montclair State University.
..... "Since it has been so warm, we haven't had those killing frosts yet, so yes, there are many insects that would typically be gone by November still hanging out now, and possible bitting if that's what they do!"
..... Aardema continued, "Basically ... until we have some real cold weather (below freezing), we'll continue seeing adult insect flying around."
..... The most obvious species hat you may be noticing are grasshoppers and crickets as well as bees which, according to Aardema, are still quite active as they are trying to find the last flowers of the season. Other insects that are still hanging around, and likely will be until the first couple of hard frosts settle in, include gnats and mosquitoes.
..... Aardema also warned about ticks, which are not insects, but are becoming much more active right now, saying "too many people assume that ticks are a summertime phenomenon, when in fact our most dangerous ticks have become more active in fall and even winter here in New Jersey.
.....
Most of these insect species typically reduce their activity during the fall when the cold weather settles in, reemerging between March and May when their eggs hatch.
..... Other insects such as bees overwinter as adults and then become more active again in the spring.
..... According to the New jersey Department of environmental Protection, some mosquitoes, for example, over-winter as adults while others begin emerging in the spring when the snow melts and the temperatures remain above freezing.
..... "Mosquitoes in New Jersey are active throughout the warm weather until the hard frost reduces activity in late fall," says the NJDEP. these "killings frosts" usually take place sometime in late September or October, according to Aardema.
Fall 2024 marked by drought, above normal temps
..... The first week of November in New Jersey saw temperatures "well above normal," with New Brunswick reaching 82 degrees on November 6, according to New Jersey State Climatologist David Robinson.
..... "This not only was a record for the date but the warmest on record for so late in the fall,: said Robinson. Records at the New Brunswick station go back to 1896.
..... October, while not exceptionally so, was also warm, landing at 2.1 degrees above normal statewide and ranking as the 20th warmest since 1895. Robinson said October highs average 5.1 degrees above normal, ranking as the fifth warmest highs on record. The lows, however, were 0.7 egress below normal, ranking as the 52nd mildest of the past 130 Octobers.
..... "This wide difference between highs and lows is strongly associated with the dry, drought conditions," said Robinson. "Sunny days led to warm highs while clear, dry nights allowed daytime warmth to readily escape to space, thus chilling the air quite efficiently,"
..... As unseasonable insects remain active this late in the year due to the above-normal temperatures, Aardema noted that our "incredibly warm autumn" can be attributed to man-made climate change.
..... Robinson echoed this statement, saying: "New Jersey's temperatures are warming throughout the year. With it is certain that humans are responsible for the majority of this warming and human contributory influences will continue in the years ahead, and there is no reason not to expect temperatures to continue to rise."