What Northern Illinois’ Cold May Nights Do To Wildlife And Bugs

Last night, as I watched my wife carrying potted plants into the garage to keep them from being killed by the forecasted 30 degree overnight temperatures, I wondered what these kinds of well-below-average temps in Northern Illinois are doing to our local bugs and wildlife.

So, I did some research.

We may be annoyed by this kind of nighttime cold in May, but it doesn’t just leave gardeners and homeowners grumbling. It also affects nearly every bug, bird, and wild animal trying to settle into spring after a long Midwest winter.

One of the first things you may notice after a cold spring night is how quiet everything feels. That’s because many insects slow down dramatically when temperatures fall into the 30s. Mosquitoes, gnats, moths, and flies become sluggish and far less active. For many Northern Illinois residents, that may actually sound like good news.

Okay, So Maybe We Don't Care About What The Cold Nights Do To Mosquitoes, Flies, Gnats, And Moths...But What About Bugs Like Bees And Butterflies?

Bees and butterflies can really struggle during these sudden cold snaps.

Bees need warmth to fly efficiently and gather pollen, so colder mornings keep them clustered near their hives longer than usual. Butterflies may remain nearly motionless until sunlight and warmer temperatures return later in the day.

The colder temperatures can also temporarily disrupt the food chain. Many birds that depend on insects for food suddenly have fewer bugs available to eat. That’s one reason robins, wrens, bluebirds, blue-jays and other birds may become more active around backyard feeders after a cold night.

Frogs and toads also react quickly to the chill. If you’ve noticed that the usual nighttime chorus around ponds, wetlands, and low-lying areas suddenly went silent, the cold weather is probably the reason. Amphibians are extremely sensitive to outside temperatures and often become inactive during colder stretches.