Freezing Cold Entomology

It is remarkable that even a single species of insect can be active during a Vermont winter.  Yet scores of species thrive in these freezing conditions.  As improbable as it may seem, many arthropods have special adaptations to overcome the challenges of operating in cold temperature: frostbite, locomotion, lack of food, susceptibility to predation, and other cold-related woes. Over the past few months of wandering field and forest for winter-active insects, I have grown to appreciate the surprising diversity of species that are living on the thermal edge.  This blog is devoted to those that defy the odds.  Those invertebrates who make winter feel like "almost spring".  Here's to winter insects!