Harsh Latvian Winter May Reduce Non-Native Insect Populations
Riga, Latvia – The unusually severe winter weather currently gripping Latvia is expected to significantly impact insect populations, particularly those species that have recently migrated from warmer southern regions. This assessment comes from Nikolajs savenkovs, an entomologist at the Latvian National Museum of Natural History, who spoke to LETA regarding the potential consequences of the prolonged cold spell.
Recent years have seen a rise in the establishment of insect species like the european mantis (Mantis religiosa) in Latvia, aided by milder winters and increasingly warm summers.Savenkovs suggests that this yearS harsh conditions could lead to a substantial reduction in the numbers of these non-native insects, as they are less adapted to prolonged freezing temperatures.
While non-native species are most vulnerable, the impact on Latvia’s native insect populations is more challenging to predict. Native insects are generally better equipped to withstand the cold, but their survival hinges on their ability to find adequate insulation. Savenkovs noted that a substantial snow cover provides a protective layer, shielding insects from the most extreme temperatures.
However, those insects that failed to adequately prepare for the winter are likely to succumb to the cold. The entomologist anticipates a decrease in populations of ticks and mole crickets, while also expressing concern for the potential impact on pollinator species.
Data from the Latvian Habitat, Geology and Meteorology Center indicates that January 2026 averaged -8.7 degrees Celsius,a notable 5.7 degrees below the average temperature recorded between 1991 and 2020. This marks the coldest January since 2010 and the second coldest since the exceptionally frigid winter of 1987, although it remains the 15th coldest January on record since measurements began in latvia in 1924.
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