Asheville – Joey Borders, representing the Asheville nonprofit EcoForesters, stated that entomologists can only make projections about how Hurricane Helene impacted local insect populations. This could involve a predator-prey model for approximately half of the 1,410 species listed for North Carolina on insectidentification.org.
Insect demographics following other hurricanes do not provide a straightforward answer either. Typically, hurricanes are followed by significant populations of mosquitoes and other insects that thrive in damp conditions. However, Helene was succeeded by the fourth driest October in Asheville’s history, with only 0.3 inches of rain recorded. What did occur as expected was an increase in yellowjacket infestations. Like other “stinging insects,” yellowjackets nest in the ground. Helene flooded their nests, prompting them to search for new homes, which led the state to purchase EpiPens and Benadryl for distribution to healthcare centers, while the nonprofit Direct Relief contributed over 2,000 EpiPens to the effort.
Borders mentioned that the ecosystem would serve as a good predictor of insect populations. The fallen trees created sunny spots that helped flowering plants thrive, which in turn attract pollinators. As Steve Pettis, a horticultural agent with the NC State Cooperative Extension in Hendersonville, noted, “Most of the plants destroyed by the storm are not nectar sources (oaks and pines), so bees will not miss the trees.”
Ticks also thrive in open fields. Borders recalled that just a few years ago, a bioblitz was conducted to enlist volunteer scientists to help monitor deer ticks due to their rising population. Deer ticks are vectors for numerous human diseases and are North America’s primary carriers of Lyme disease. Pettis observed that deer populations have been increasing regionally over the past ten years. “Deer,” he remarked, “are tick dispensers. (Remember Pez candy dispensers?) They leave a trail of ticks everywhere they walk. There are increasing instances of tick-related diseases in WNC as well.”
On a positive note, Dr. Kelly Oten, a registered forester with the Ag Extension, pointed out that mild winters promote large tick populations, and the 22 days of freezing temperatures last January will likely slow their spread, at least locally.
The abundance of dead wood ensures that the region’s decomposers—such as beetles, roaches, ants, and termites—should not go hungry. However, if conditions become crowded, some of these creatures may start seeking new decaying wood and tall grass. Therefore, entomologists recommend caulking cracks in exterior walls and keeping grass mowed. While decomposers may not seem threatening, they attract mice, snakes, and other pests that view them as food.
Cicadas are still expected this year. Pettis noted that the pupae were safe underground, and Oten stated that they always emerge successfully from severe weather events. Dr. Matt Bertone, director of the NC State Plant Disease and Insect Clinic, has extensively written about these creatures. He mentioned that Brood IV, which emerges every 17 years, “appears to be concentrated around the mountains in the western part of the state” and is scheduled to emerge in 2025 as planned. While loud and intimidating, cicadas are not known to cause any harm to humans or animals.
Finally, the hurricane that displaced humans and their homes undoubtedly swept away insects as well. Fire ants are notorious for surviving hurricanes by linking their bodies together to form rafts and floating along with the current. Oten described how small Joro spiders and spongy moths emit silk fibers to create rudimentary sails that can carry some of them hundreds of miles. Fire ants, Joro spiders, and spongy moths were all present before Helene. Oten expressed greater concern about invasive plants because they “thrive in disturbed areas, and with soil disturbance and forest canopies opening up, these are ripe for invasion or increase.” Pettis added that invasive vertebrates like wild pigs and armadillos are also on the rise.
Pettis recommended visiting https://www.buncombecounty.org/common/health/MosquitoesTicksFact%20Sheet.pdf and https://henderson.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/07/environmentally-friendly-landscaping/ for practical tips.