How Do Flies Survive the Winter?

When the weather gets cold, flies go into a state of hibernation, or a slumber, to preserve their body temperature. This stage of life can last for several weeks, and flies return to normal when the temperature rises. During this time, they produce a natural antifreeze called glycol, which is stored in their bodies and keeps them warm during cold temperatures. Most insects, even those that hibernate outdoors, produce antifreeze during the colder months.

During the winter, hundreds of thousands of insects and other creatures are still in the larval stages of their life cycles. They are protected under a layer of fallen leaves during winter, and they emerge in the spring as full-grown flies. In addition to their larval stage, some insects have the ability to lay eggs that survive the cold winter. These include praying mantises and corn rootworms. Insects also benefit from the presence of snow, which helps keep the ground’s temperature constant. In addition, some insects are able to remain active in a hollow tree throughout the winter by generating their own body heat.

Flies spend most of the day mating and then lay their eggs. The resulting maggots hatch from the eggs within 20 hours. Once they have developed, the maggots feed off the food nearby.