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. <![endif]>
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.
<![endif]>
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.
<![endif]>
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. <![endif]>
We won’t have to wait long to
find out. Insects adapt quickly, so we
will likely see changes within our lifetime,
Frazier says.
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