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.”…