Increase in crop losses to insect pests in a warming climate

Deutsch, Curtis; Tewksbury, Joshua J.; Tigchelaar, Michelle; Battisti, David S.; Merrill, Scott C.; Huey, Raymond B.; Naylor, Rosamond L.

doi:10.1126/science.aat3466

Cited by 1,001 publications

(642 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Various reports have predicted that the global air temperature will increase by 1.8–4.0 °C, on average, over the next 100 years . Consequently, warmer and shorter winter seasons could hamper or delay the termination of the diapause in some eggs and, thus, ultimately reduce the initial spring populations . However, it is quite likely that P. gallicus will adapt to a wide range of variable climatic conditions due to the existence of females with different reproductive strategies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When natural enemies go to sleep: diapause induction and termination in the pear psyllid predator Pilophorus gallicus (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Ramírez‐Soria

Wäckers

Sánchez

2019

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND Pilophorus gallicus Remane (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an important predator of the pear psyllid Cacopsylla pyri L. (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in pear orchards (Pyrus communis L. ‐Rosaceae‐). In the Mediterranean area, it has a multivoltine lifecycle, and can establish resident populations by entering into a facultative embryonic diapause to survive the winter season. Facultative diapause is regulated by environmental factors, and its role in population dynamics is essential because it determines the presence of active individuals in the field. The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of (i) photoperiod and temperature on diapause induction in P. gallicus and (ii) photoperiod, temperature, and exposure time on diapause termination. RESULTS Diapause induction was triggered by a short photoperiod (9L:15D), whereas temperature did not influence it significantly. In contrast, diapause termination required a prolonged exposure to low temperature while photoperiod did not have a significant effect. At 6 °C, diapause termination increased significantly between 50 and 70 days of exposure, but not among 70, 90 and 150 days. The longer the exposure of diapausing eggs to 6 °C the shorter their hatching times. Additionally, three different reproductive classes were observed among the female population: diapause inducing, non‐diapause inducing, and mixed. CONCLUSION This work contributes to the knowledge of the reproductive and overwintering strategy of P. gallicus. Embryonic diapause may greatly determine the structure of populations according to environmental conditions and the response of the predator as biological pest control agent. In addition, knowledge of the factors regulating egg diapause may be a useful tool for the mass rearing industry. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When natural enemies go to sleep: diapause induction and termination in the pear psyllid predator Pilophorus gallicus (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Ramírez‐Soria

Wäckers

Sánchez

2019

Pest Management Science

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“…Controlling crop pests can be done via the use of pesticides, but these entail environmental and public health issues and they are often ineffective due to the rapid evolution of pesticide resistance. Given the possible increase in crop losses to insect pests due to global warming (Deutsch et al, 2018) and the restrictions and added dangers of natural enemies importation, optimizing existing and native biocontrol agents by selecting from their intraspecific variation in 'biocontrol' traits can be an alternative (although the ethical issue of disrupting ecosystems needs to be accounted for). However, the use of natural enemies also poses legal and ethical challenges of its own.…”

Section: The Use Of Experimental Evolution In Biological Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does experimental evolution produce better biological control agents? A critical review of the evidence

Lirakis

Magalhães

2019

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Biological control of crop pests is considered a good alternative or complement to the use of pesticides. However, legislation restricts the importation of natural enemies of pests. A potential way to circumvent this limitation is by using experimental evolution and/or artificial selection to improve native biological control agents. Here, we review studies that have used these methodologies and evaluate their success. Experimental evolution or artificial selection has been used on a wide range of traits, with most focusing on improving the performance of natural enemies in ecologically relevant environments, such as in the presence of pesticides or at different temperatures. Although most studies were poorly replicated, the selected traits generally improved following the selection process. However, correlated responses (often in the form of trade-offs) with other traits of interest were common. We suggest that the selection procedure can be improved by increasing replication and performing experimental evolution under more semi-natural environments, to ensure that the most useful traits are being selected.

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“…A model projection by Deutsch et al. () estimates that arthropods will consume 10%–25% more cereal crops for every 1°C rise in global temperature. Yet, despite the urgent need to increase food production for growing human populations, biodiversity preservation on agroecosystems is equally important.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Herbivorous arthropod species can be pests or potential pests of agricultural crops, and many of them are expected to increase in abundance, productivity, and geographic range due to climate change (Thomson, Macfadyen & Hoffmann, 2012;Wheeler & von Braun, 2013). A model projection by Deutsch et al (2018) estimates that arthropods will consume 10%-25% more cereal crops for every 1°C rise in global temperature. Yet, despite the urgent need to increase food production for growing human populations, biodiversity preservation on agroecosystems is equally important.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maize‐field complexity and farming system influence insectivorous birds’ contribution to arthropod herbivore regulation

2019

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The contribution of insectivorous birds to reducing crop damage through suppression of herbivory remains underappreciated, despite their role as cropland arthropod predators. We examined the roles of farming system, crop cover pattern, and structural configuration in influencing assemblage composition of insectivorous birds and their herbivorous arthropod prey across maize fields, and determined how bird exclusion affects crop herbivory levels. To achieve these objectives, we collected data across a sample of organic and conventional small‐scale non‐Bt maize farms in western Kenya. Assessments of abundance, diversity, and richness of insectivorous birds and abundance of their arthropod prey were compared between organic and conventional small‐scale non‐Bt maize on monocultured and inter‐cropped farms. We also employed bird exclusion experiments to assess impacts of bird predation on herbivorous arthropod abundance. Results showed that higher structural heterogeneity supported higher insectivorous bird richness, particularly under organic systems, dense trees, large woodlots, and thick hedgerows. Bird abundance further increased with crop diversity but not in relation to cropping method, hedgerow type, or percent maize cover per se. Conversely, herbivorous arthropod abundance and richness increased on conventional farms and those with higher percent maize cover, but were unaffected by cropping methods, tree, or hedgerow characteristics. Birds’ arthropod prey was more abundant under completely closed experimental plots compared with open or semi‐closed plots, confirming a significant linkage between birds and herbivorous arthropod suppression. In this study, we demonstrate importance of structural heterogeneity in agricultural landscapes, including diverse croplands and on‐farm trees to maximize insectivorous birds’ contribution to reducing crop arthropod herbivory. Abstract in Swahili is available with online material.

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Increase in crop losses to insect pests in a warming climate

Cited by 1,001 publications

References 32 publications

When natural enemies go to sleep: diapause induction and termination in the pear psyllid predator Pilophorus gallicus (Hemiptera: Miridae)

When natural enemies go to sleep: diapause induction and termination in the pear psyllid predator Pilophorus gallicus (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Does experimental evolution produce better biological control agents? A critical review of the evidence

Maize‐field complexity and farming system influence insectivorous birds’ contribution to arthropod herbivore regulation

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