Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

Illinois soil temperatures warmer than normal this winter

Illinois’ milder winter soil temperatures may have an impact on pest populations, according to researchers at the Prairie Research Institute at Illinois

Overall, soil temperatures were milder than normal, according to Jennie Atkins with the Illinois State Water Survey’s Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring Program. At depths of 4 inches under bare soil, temperatures averaged 35.2 degrees this winter, or 1.4 degrees above the long-term average. Soils averaged 1.8 degrees cooler than last winter.  

Temperatures rose and fell throughout the season. Late December and early January had a 12-day period when soil temperatures averaged below freezing, falling to a seasonal low of 11.7 degrees in Belleville on Jan. 2. The highest of the season was 65.2 degrees, reported at Dixon Springs on Feb. 20.

Soils warmed up in February and reached a statewide average of 47.6 degrees on Feb. 28, 12.8 degrees warmer than normal. Daily highs were in the 40s and 50s with lows falling into the 30s.  

Temperatures under sod followed a similar pattern with a winter statewide average of 36.6 degrees, 1.6 degrees warmer than normal, but 2.4 degrees lower than in winter 2016-17. 

The mild temperature trends over the winter favor insect survivability, according to Kelly Estes, state agricultural pest survey coordinator with the Illinois Natural History Survey. Ultimately, though, there are several factors that play a part in determining spring insect pressure: the previous year’s population, winter temperatures, spring weather and more.

The extremely cold period in January may have impacted some insect survival rates. However, the cold was not enough to completely wipe out pest populations.

Insects can survive cold temperatures through various genetic adaptions. Insects overwintering in the soil are affected by repeated temperature swings through freeze/thaw cycles combined with exposure to moisture. Despite these cold temperatures, their duration was relatively short and didn’t impact the average winter temperatures.

Although a mild winter is favorable for insect survival, it is only going to affect insects that spend their winter here in Illinois. Several important crop pests will migrate into the Midwest this spring and summer from the southern states. Despite some bitterly cold temperatures in January, there is still a possibility for an active insect season.

Read Next

Life sciences Portrait of the research team posing together.

Minecraft players can now explore whole cells and their contents

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists have translated nanoscale experimental and computational data into precise 3D representations of bacteria, yeast and human epithelial, breast and breast cancer cells in Minecraft, a video game that allows players to explore, build and manipulate structures in three dimensions. The innovation will allow researchers and students of all ages to navigate […]

Arts Photo of seven dancers onstage wearing blue tops and orange or yellow flowing skirts. The backdrop is a Persian design.

February Dance includes works experimenting with live music, technology and a ‘sneaker ballet’

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The dance department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will present February Dance 2025: Fast Forward this week at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. February Dance will be one of the first performances in the newly renovated Colwell Playhouse Theatre since its reopening. The performances are Jan. 30-Feb. 1. Dance professor […]

Honors portraits of four Illinois researchers

Four Illinois researchers receive Presidential Early Career Award

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Four researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign were named recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on young professionals at the outset of their independent research careers. The winners this year are health and kinesiology professor Marni Boppart, physics professor Barry Bradlyn, chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Ying […]

Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

507 E. Green St
MC-426
Champaign, IL 61820

Email: stratcom@illinois.edu

Phone (217) 333-5010