How Insects Predict the Weather (2024)

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Can insects predict the weather? Next time you see an insect, spider, or other “creepy-crawly,” check out what it’s doing! Itcould let you know something about the upcoming weather, especially the winter months. Here is a listing of some of the more well-known weather folklore about insects andweather!

Is there some truth to it? Youdecide!

Insect WeatherFolklore

Observe ants, bees, hornets, crickets, houseflies, and other insects. Their activity tells us whether the weather will be cold, warm, windy, orfair!

See how high the hornet’s nest, ‘twill tell how high the snow willrest.
If ant hills are high in July, the coming winter will be hard.
When cicadas are heard, dry weather will follow, and frost will come in six weeks.
If ants their walls do frequently build, rain will from the clouds bespilled.
When bees to distance wing their flight, days are warm and skies are bright; But when their flight ends near their home, stormy weather is sure tocome.
Flies gather in houses just before therain.
The early arrival of crickets on the hearth means an early winter.
The more quicklycrickets chirp, the warmer thetemperature.

Read more about predicting weather with cricket chirps!

SpiderFolklore

Of course, spiders are arachnids, not insects, but we are including these creeply-crawlies here! Can spiders predict winter weather? What do youthink?

Observe spiders and their webs closely to gauge theweather:

Spiders spinning larger than usual webs is a sign of a cold winter tocome.
When spiders’ webs in air do fly, the spell will soon be verydry.
When spiderwebs are wet with dew that soon dries, expect a fineday.
Spiderwebs floating at autumn sunset; bring a night frost, on this you maybet.
Spiders move down from their webs beforerain.

The Woolly Worms’Bands

Certainly, many of you may have heard of thewoolly bear caterpillar’s ability toforecast winter weather. These caterpillars have black and brown bands; according to folklore, more black than brown indicates a harsh, cold winter, while more brown than black points to a mild winter. Read more about woolly worms asmeteorologists!