Brian Kunkel, Ornamental IPM Specialist, from the Cooperative Extensions Ornamentals Hotline posted an article in the March 21, 2014 issue 1 stating that the cold winter may have affected insects this year. He stated that borers would probably be fine because they are protected with their host plants. Insect pests with overwintering larvae or pupae in the soil will most likely be unaffected. Eastern tent caterpillars have egg masses on small diameter twigs and their numbers may be less this year because it was so cold. Brown marmorated stink bugs fly around during warmer winters and use most of their energy and possibly starving themselves to death before spring, but this winter they rarely had the opportunity to fly. So their numbers may be up this spring. Environmental conditions encountered when the respective insect is normally active often have greater impacts on their abundance than winter extremes.