10/26/2026
Most butterflies, moths, and native bees don't fly south. They spend the winter right in your yard, tucked into fallen leaves, hollow stems, and the top inch of soil. A tidy fall cleanup can throw a whole season of pollinators out with the trash.
Leaf look-alikes: Swallowtail chrysalises and luna moth cocoons resemble dead leaves. Raking can destroy them.
An inch underground: Fireflies and native bees overwinter in leaf litter or shallow burrows.
Hollow stems: Small carpenter, mason, and leafcutter bees nest in old plant stems. Leave them 8 to 24 inches tall.
Bumble bees: Fallen leaves shelter native bumble bees and ground-nesting insects—don’t shred them!
Familiar faces: Woolly bears and spring peepers also winter under that leaf layer.
