During the winter, you usually do not see bugs very of often. That is because they have special techniques to help them survive the winter. Some of these tactics include migrating, going through the winter while changing stages, and hibernating.
Some insects, such as the Monarch butterfly, migrate south for the winter. They do this to get to warmer temperatures. They start to migrate when they notice that the weather starts to get cooler. The Monarch butterfly has one of the world's largest migration. They travel over 3,000 miles from the northern U.S. and Canada to Mexico in groups of thousands.
Another method to surviving the winter is changing stages in the life cycle. Many bugs survive the winter by changing its stage. Insects stay a certain stage of their life cycle throughout the winter. They can go through the winter as pupae, eggs, or nymphs. They adapt to there surroundings to make it possible to "weather the winter weather". For example, some nymphs, lay dormant n frozen rivers for the winter.
Insects can also hibernate cold, bitter winter. This dormant state is caused diapause. During this diapause, insects produce this chemical called glycerol that acts like an antifreeze. Insects also lower their water content. Bees cluster together and flap their wings to keep warm. Other insects burrow underground or into trees.
Insects like to keep warm in the winter. If you were an insect, which way would you want to keep warm in the winter? Why?
Information courtesy of- http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4DMG/Pests/winter.htm
http://www.si.edu/encyclopedia_si/nmnh/buginfo/winter.htm
http://www.fs.fed.us/monarchbutterfly/migration/index.shtml
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