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  • Publication | 2023

The impact of climate change on insect pest biology and ecology: Implications for pest management strategies, crop production, and food security

Global Food and Nutrition Security

Highlights:

  • The interactions between climate, crops and insects are complex.

  • Agriculture is threatened by climate change, and effective management strategies are urgently needed.

  • Insects can cause more crop damage and yield loss due to climate change.

  • Managing agricultural insect pests in a changing climate requires comprehensive approaches and community involvement.

Abstract:

The explosive expansion of the global population and technological progress has greatly influenced agriculture and food production. However, this progress is threatened by climate change, which unleashes a slew of issues like carbon dioxide (CO2) increases, frequent droughts, and temperature shifts that present a substantial obstacle to crop yields and food security. The ramifications of these climatic factors on insect pest biology and ecology are profound, given that these pests depend heavily on these factors. Since crop productivity is tightly connected to both insect pests and these climate variables, changes in these factors can significantly impact crop yields. Therefore, it is imperative to comprehend the impact of climate change on insect pests to manage them effectively and ensure sufficient food production. This review examines the climate change effect on insect pest biology and ecology and explores the potential use of modern pest monitoring technologies and prediction tools to devise effective pest management strategies to improve crop production and food security.