Abstract
Climate change affects the physiology of insects by accelerating their metabolism, growth, and reproduction, which increases their density, and ultimately leads to the consumption and infestation of crops damaged, this action, contributes to economic losses, especially in countries where agriculture plays an important role in their economic sector. This chapter aims to identify how the climatic parameters, in particular the rise in temperature that promotes the development of its insect pests, also causes the action of expanding their distribution, and further reduces biological control, especially natural enemies. And also this chapter shows how insects interact with crops to cause agricultural infestations and damage. The control of agricultural pests can only be established through in-depth studies on the impact of climate change on the interaction between agricultural pests and crops and the contribution of strategies that incorporate the environment and physical resources, and social and financial benefits for farmers. Moreover, the application of adaptation practices, such as improved pest management, monitoring of climate and pest populations, and development of integrated models for predicting climate change, agriculture, and pests, are also considered relevant and effective solutions for the pest control.
TopIntroduction
Climate change affects several systems such as water resources, at global and regional levels (Ayt Ougougdal et al., 2020) and also productive sectors such as agriculture (Karmaoui, 2019), which is one of the sectors most vulnerable to climate change (Eddoughri et al., 2022), as there is a strong interrelation between agriculture and climate change drivers, which include both meteorological variables (temperature, precipitation) and greenhouse gases (Amiri et al., 2021). Since the climate is a key determinant of agricultural productivity, any change will influence crop growth and yield. Agricultural production may already have been affected by climate change, with significant yield losses estimated in the historical past (Sultan et al., 2019). Average yield reduction is 8% in Africa due to climate change. Climate change is one of the major risks facing developing countries in Africa for which agriculture is a predominant part of the economy (Amiri et al., 2021).
Agro-ecosystems support an enormous diversity and biomass of insect species because agricultural landscapes can provide large insect habitats if managed accordingly (Busse et al., 2021). But agriculture also suffers from the invasion of pests that survive and reproduce at the expense of plant species and this causes serious damage reducing the production of the main crops (Metcalf, 1996; Pimental, 1976; Strickland, 1969) and losses from these insects can occur in the field and during storage (Oerke, 2006).
Since the mid-XXe century, several researchers have estimated global insect losses of 13.8% in 1967 for cop production generally (Strickland, 1969), and 13.0% in 1985 (Pimentel, 1986), and for 2006 global losses were estimated to be between 7.9% and 15.1% for wheat, rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, and cotton, even with effective controls (Oerke, 2006). Agricultural damage is caused by several factors related to environmental conditions, crop species, farmers' socioeconomic conditions, and the level of technology used (Oliveira et al., 2014).
Several studies revealed that the growth of insect pests in agriculture remains an often-forgotten consequence of global warming (Tonnang et al., 2022; Ma & Ma, 2022; Jasrotia et al., 2021; Schneider et al., 2022; Stengaard Hansen et al., 2012; Outhwaite et al., 2022).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Temperature: All atmospheric conditions, variable, subjectively translated into relative sensations of hot and cold, the same appreciation of which is provided by the thermometer.
Insect Predators: Insects that feed on and capture live prey. They help regulate the populations of other insects known as pests.
Insects Distribution: Insects geographical distribution.
Climate Change: Refers to all the variations in climate characteristics in a given place over time: warming or cooling.
Damage to Crops: Loss of crop potential (reduced yield in quantity and/or quality).