Global Warming Could Trigger Insect Population Explosion
Pastor Dale Morgan
Global Warming Could Trigger Insect Population Explosion*
By Abigail W. Leonard
LiveScience
posted: 06 November 2006
A rise in the Earth’s temperature could lead to an increase in the
number of insects worldwide, with potentially dire consequences for
humans, a new study suggests.
New research shows that insect species living in warmer areas are more
likely to undergo rapid population growth because they have higher
metabolic rates and reproduce more frequently. The finding has
scientists concerned that global warming could give rise to more
fast-growing insect populations and that we could see a spike in the
number of six-legged critters.
The consequences could be more serious than just a few extra bug bites
each summer. “If they’re crop species, we could count on needing to use
more pesticides and it could be very costly,” said Melanie Frazier, a
doctoral student at the University of Washington and lead author of the
study.
Insect-borne diseases are also a worry. Malaria, Lyme Disease and a host
of others rely on insect vectors to spread among humans, and a swell in
their populations could mean more infections.
Already, scientists have observed a widening of malarial zones with new
cases appearing in previously unaffected areas. The change is thought to
be due to rising temperatures and an expansion of areas habitable for
mosquitoes. The new research, detailed in the October issue of The
American Naturalist, shows rising temperatures would mean insects would
not only spread out, but also multiply more quickly.
Still, Frazier says it’s too soon to predict which species will adapt
and which might even face extinction. She and her colleagues looked at
65 insect species and found a correlation between warm climes and
population growth across the board – but, she cautioned, the scientists
have no way of predicting which species will eventually adapt to new,
warmer areas.
We won’t have to wait long to find out. Insects adapt quickly, so we
will likely see changes within our lifetime, Frazier says.