Climate change and managing insect pests and beneficials in agricultural systems

Climate change is expected to alter pressure from insect pests and the effectiveness of insect pollinators across diverse agricultural systems globally. In response to warming, insects are undergoing or are projected to undergo shifts in their geographic ranges, voltinism, abundance, and phenology. Effects on the focal insect species can be affected directly or indirectly, through their interactions with other species at higher and lower trophic levels. These climate-driven effects are complex and as a result variable, sometimes increasing pest pressure or reducing pollination and sometimes with opposite effects depending on climatic baseline conditions and the interplay of contributing drivers. This uncertainty prevents effective responses. Furthermore, in addition to effects of climate change on insect pests and pollinators, projected and ongoing climate change is incentivizing changes in cropping systems such as altered tillage and increasing diversification and intensification with the potential to alter pests and pollinators as great as climate itself. Preparing for this uncertainty must be included in a framework for Climate-smart Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management, as a component of agricultural production under climate change.

Automated summary

Climate change is expected to affect insect pests and pollinators in agricultural systems worldwide, causing shifts in geographic ranges, population abundance, and interactions with other species. These effects are complex and variable, sometimes increasing pest pressure or reducing pollination, depending on climatic conditions and other contributing factors. In addition, climate change is driving changes in cropping systems that can further affect pests and pollinators. Effective pest and pollinator management strategies must consider this uncertainty and be integrated into agricultural production under climate change.