Post-Hurricane Bug Activity

Hurricane Irene

The GOES-13 (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) captured this powerful image of Hurricane Irene inundating North Carolina and Virginia on the 27th of August, 2011. WCVE producer Steve Clark and Dr. Art Evans, Entomologist discuss what effects hurricanes and earthquakes might have on insect populations.

The earliest reference we have to unusual animal behavior prior to a significant earthquake is from Greece in 373 BC. Anectdotal evidence also abounds, but much research still needs to be done on this subject. Art says we still need to establish a baseline behavior pattern for insects in advance of meaningful research on the effects of seismic events or weather phenomena on insect populations.