As temperatures warm, the questions are already rolling in from inquisitive folks wondering how insects fared the winter in Iowa. Some insects have adapted to survive freezing temperatures. A prior article delves deep into the topic of “How do insects survive the winter?” and is worth reading for more information on general strategies. The 2024 to 2025 winter was a particularly variable one across the state, and questions like “Was it cold enough to kill the rootworms?” have come up repeatedly. The article will address factors that may affect overwintering mortality of corn rootworm.
Understand winter effects on rootworm
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A corn-rootworm beetle is spotted in southwestern Wisconsin.
Daily four-inch soil temperatures for Iowa are shown on a) January 20, 2025 and b) February 20, 2025.
Snow depth estimates of the United States are shown for a) January 20, 2025 and b) February 20, 2025.
Daily high and low temperatures for Ames, Iowa, during March 2025 are shown.
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