Certainly! Last year, this paper was published on the topic:
Hong, J., Lee, M., Kim, Y. et al. Potential range shift of a long-distance migratory rice pest, Nilaparvata lugens, under climate change. Sci Rep 14, 11531 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62266-x
And a good complementary read:
Kriticos, D., Szyniszewska, A., Bradshaw, C., Li, C., Verykouki, E., Yonow, T. et al. (2024) Modelling tools for including climate change in pest risk assessments. EPPO Bulletin, 54(Suppl. 1), 38–51. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.12994
Climate change significantly influences the distribution and behavior of agricultural insect pests, primarily through rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. These environmental changes affect pest migration, reproduction, and survival, leading to increased challenges in crop management.
Impact of Rising Temperatures:
Geographic Expansion: Warmer temperatures enable many insect pests to expand their habitats into previously cooler regions. For instance, pests like the western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) have extended their range northward due to milder winters and longer growing seasons.
Increased Reproduction Rates: Elevated temperatures can accelerate the life cycles of insects, leading to more generations per year. This increase in reproductive rates can result in higher pest populations and greater crop damage.
Enhanced Survival Rates: Milder winters reduce the mortality rates of overwintering pests, allowing more individuals to survive into the growing season. This trend has been observed in species such as the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), which benefits from warmer winter temperatures.
Impact of Changing Rainfall Patterns:
Altered Pest Dynamics: Changes in precipitation can influence pest populations differently. Increased rainfall may create favorable conditions for certain pests, while drought conditions can stress plants, making them more susceptible to insect attacks. For example, aphid outbreaks have been linked to drought-stressed crops.
Disrupted Natural Controls: Fluctuating rainfall can affect the effectiveness of natural predators and parasitoids that help control pest populations, potentially leading to pest outbreaks.
Case Studies:
Spongy Moth Infestation: In California, the spongy moth has caused extensive defoliation in forests. Climate change has limited the effectiveness of natural fungal pathogens that typically control moth populations, exacerbating the infestation.
Butterfly Range Shifts: In Greece, rising temperatures have forced butterfly species to migrate to cooler areas with less food availability, impacting their survival and reproduction.
These examples illustrate the complex ways in which climate change affects agricultural insect pests, underscoring the need for adaptive pest management strategies in response to evolving environmental conditions.