Learn about the various insects that come out during spring.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00As temperatures rise, so does insect activity. But the bug guy, University of Maryland Professor Emeritus Dr. Michael Raupp, says the bees we'll see emerge this spring are the ones that help our environment the most.
00:12They're super important pollinators for all these spring blooming trees and shrubs and flowers that are out right now.
00:21But not all insects buzzing around are beneficial. Warmer weather also means a return of ticks. They can transmit diseases like Lyme disease, but there are ways to reduce the risk by wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing and repellent outside.
00:36If you do find a tick on you, time is of the essence.
00:39Get those ticks off within the first day. That'll reduce the possibility of a tick-borne illness like Lyme disease.
00:47Spotted lanternflies are another concern. The invasive species can damage trees and plants.
00:53Since arriving from China 11 years ago, the pests can now be found in backyards in 18 states, mostly on the East Coast.
01:01So don't be surprised this year if you go out into your garden, into your yard, into a forest, and boom, there's spotted lanternfly.
01:11And due to the changing climate, Raub says some southern insects you may have never seen before are creeping further north.
01:19Things like lone star ticks, Asian tiger mosquitoes, crape myrtle bark scale.
01:26Many insects that were once constrained to southern realms are simply moving further north with the warming world, mild winters, longer growing seasons.
01:37So whether they're the good guys, the bad guys, or the ones you weren't expecting, insects are here for the season.
01:43For AccuWeather, I'm Ellie Reed.