Single Digits
Our low temperature this morning was 9 degrees. This was only 3 degrees above the record low for this date set in 1947. Not sure when this arctic air will moderate; looking at the computer models, there's no clear end in sight.
But the good news is: this cold snap should kill off a lot of insect pests. The bad news is: this cold snap is probably a selective force for the survivors.... the stronger, hardier bugs... the ones they make science fiction movies about.... Stay tuned.
Winters in Hood River for the past 15 -20 years have been, on average, warmer than historical averages. For more official Hood River historical weather data, check out Oregon Climate Service data listings for Zone 6, specifically Hood River Experimental Station.
Sorry , but typically this type of weather will encourage the pest population not surpress it. The weather it takes to kill bugs also kills off the crops and trees first.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment! This flies in the face of what seems to be common consensus "knowledge" that cold spells are necessary locally to reduce runaway insect populations. In response to your comment (and having been a biology major in college, and still greatly interested in such stuff), I did a little internet research on IPM and the effect of cold weather on insect/pest populations.
ReplyDeleteAnd generally, what I found indicated that you are indeed quite correct. Of course, it depends on the particular species, what life stage they overwinter as, how well they are protected (in soil, in woodpiles, under brush, etc), and other factors.
Indigenous insects and other pests are well adapted to the area they live in (otherwise they wouldn't survive there long term), and that includes areas with long cold spells.