A small magpie moth is pictured. (Photo, story courtesy of Scot Stewart)

“Hibernation is a covert preparation for a more overt action” – Ralph Ellison

MARQUETTE — Spring is the time to wrap up hibernation for another season and get back to living. Now as some people are spending more time outside around their home or on walks to get outside, they have the chance to see more of the small signs the outdoors coming back to life as Spring moves into full gear.

More and more is being understood about the animals we always thought went into hibernation. Some mammals clearly go into a sound, sleeping state with very light breathing and a much lower heart rate like least and eastern chipmunks here. Black bears wake frequently during their winter sleep and have even been known to leave their den in mid-winter on warm days. Their hibernation is more of a deep sleep. Skunks and raccoons can stir frequently during warm nights in late winter to forage. The other group of warm-blooded animals, the birds, are active all winter, either here or in warmer places.

Most cold-blooded animals living in water that has not frozen can simply slow down. Many of the area’s frogs and turtles hunker down in mud and most do go into complete hibernation. Some, like wood frogs can freeze solid – that is really sound asleep with NO interruptions. Insects must also cope with freezing temperatures in similar ways. Many cold-blooded animals lose large amounts of water before winter to reduce the chance of cell damage. When water freezes in cells, it does the same thing it does in a tin can or glass bottle. It expands and ruptures the container. Cold-blooded animals can also produce antifreeze type chemicals to blunt the effects of freezing on their bodies and allow them to wait out subfreezing temperatures.

Many moths overwinter as pupae in cocoons. As the weather warms the rising temperatures speed the final maturation of the moths into adults. This usually occurs in May and June for most moths here. So, it came as a surprise when one Marquette family found a bright new one, a black, white and orange, small magpie moth, sitting in their kitchen last week. It was not a warm sunny morning, so it did not seem to be one that emerged from a cocoon outside and wandered into the house, but one that spent the cold months inside. But how? The small mystery proved fun to solve.

The small magpie moth is actually native to the United Kingdom but was accidentally introduced to North America and has spread across the northern states and southern portions of Canada. The favorite food of the larvae — the caterpillars, is nettle, but they do eat bindweed and mint. The host family grows a big patch of peppermint in their garden and this past fall they cut and dried large bunches of mint in their kitchen for mint tea. The idea arose that a small magpie moth caterpillar was on the mint when it was cut, rode into the house rolled up in a mint leaf, that is the way they feed, so it was in hiding. From there it dropped out and found a comfy place to spin its cocoon, and since the house was warmer than outside, it developed faster and was ready to emerge last week! That of course was a bad time, cold outside, and no other moths to commune with there. Cold temps and water in the fridge may keep it going until it warms outside.

The warmer weather will draw out other insects — some flies and midges have emerged already; mourning cloak and tortoise shell butterflies will be out soon. So, get out and be ready to see them emerge.