Can insects predict the weather? Next time you see an insect, spider, or other “creepy-crawly,” check out what it’s doing! It could let you know something about the upcoming weather. Here’s some of the more well-known weather folklore about insects and weather!
Insect Weather Folklore
Observe ants, bees, hornets, crickets, and other insects. Their activity tells us whether the weather will be cold, warm, windy or fair!
- See how high the hornet’s nest, ‘twill tell how high the snow will rest.
- 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 be spilled.
- 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 to come.
- The early arrival of crickets on the hearth means an early winter.
- The more quickly crickets chirp, the warmer the temperature.
Read more about predicting weather with cricket chirps!
Image: Bald-faced hornets make nests in trees at varying heights. How high or low may predict snow.
Spider Folklore
Of course, spiders are arachnids, not insects, but we’re including these creeply-crawlies here! Can spiders predict winter weather? What do you think?
Observe spiders and their webs closely to gauge weather:
- Spiders spinning larger than usual webs is a sign of a cold winter to come.
- When spiders’ webs in air do fly, the spell will soon be very dry.
- When spiderwebs are wet with dew that soon dries, expect a fine day.
- Spiderwebs floating at autumn sunset; bring a night frost, on this you may bet.
- Spiders move down from their webs before rain.
Image: Large spider webs in autumn indicate frost.
The Woolly Worms’ Bands
Certainly, many of you may have heard of the woolly bear caterpillar’s ability to forecast 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!
Image: Do the bands of the woolly worm predict the winter weather?
Reptiles & Amphibians
Observe reptiles and amphibians as weather predictors, too!
- The louder the frogs, the more the rain.
- Frogs singing in the evening indicates fair weather the next day.
- Hang up a snakeskin and it will bring rain.
More Weather Folklore
Other animals predict the weather, too! See how birds predict the weather. See how other mammals predict weather.
Even onion skins predict the weather! See signs of a bad winter, according to lore.
Did we miss any? Share your favorite proverbs and sayings below!
Reader Comments
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Insects predict weather folklore..
My old folklore
When the wind comes from the east..fish bite the least.
When the wind comes from the south..it blows the bait into the fishes mouth.
When the wind comes from the west..fish bite the best.
When the wind comes from the north..fishermen shouldn’t go forth.
Insects and weather
"...flies gather in houses just before rain."
Yes, they do. If they can get inside ahead of rain, they will find a way in. And they did just that yesterday, ahead of today's rain predicted (by meteorologist and National Weather Service) rain - lots of rain. That is a good thing to remember, and also, check to see that none of your screens need repairs!! If you don't, the flies will drive you nuts.
Rain indicator
A ring around the moon means rain is coming soon.
Also, for partial moon phases, if the moon were a bowl on an angle that liquid would pour out of it means rain is coming the following day.
Hornets
"When hornets build their nests near the ground, expect a cold and early winter." This comment is incorrect. When hornets build near the ground it will be a mild winter. When they build high it means a hard, snowy winter. I have seen this happen many years in areas that aren't sprayed consistently. In some of our snowiest winters I have seen very large nests built very high in trees.
coming rain
My granny always said when the backs of the leaves on the trees begin to show, it's a sure-fire sign of rain.
Insects and weather
Here in the Midwest I was taught that count 90 days from the first cicadas will be our first frost.
weather
If it thunders before 7;00 (am) it will rain before 11:00
WEATHER
The way I heard this one was, "Rain before 7:00, clear by 11:00.
Rain
If it rains the first Sunday in June, it will rain every Sunday in the month.
leaves on trees
I was always told that if the leaves on the trees seem to turn backwards a storm was coming.
Peepers
Is there some saying about peepers; hearing them three times before the warm weather stays ? I can't remember just how it goes.
peepers in spring
I have always gone by the rule that a frost between hearing them three times,that spring has sprung.
The fog days of August count
The fog days of August count the days if snow, the thicker the fog the deeper the snow
The thicker the the trees bark come fall the colder winter will be felt by all
Birds nest during the rain the sooner it will pass but birds flying about in the rain the longer it will be
A rain before 7 will be gone
A rain before 7 will be gone by 11
When turtles cross the road,
When turtles cross the road, it will rain the next day. The more turtles seen, the harder the rain.
When the dew is on the grass,
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.