Impacts of Climate Change on Insect Pests and Crop Protection Strategies

Abstract:

Climate change is profoundly altering agricultural ecosystems, directly influencing insect pest behavior, distribution, and their impact on crops. Rising temperatures, fluctuating precipitation, and elevated CO₂ levels have accelerated pest reproduction cycles, expanded their geographical ranges, and increased the frequency of pest outbreaks. These changes impose severe challenges for crop protection and food security, exacerbated by pests’ adaptation to conventional pesticides and the reduced resilience of crops under climatic stress.
This study reviews the intricate relationship between climate change and pest dynamics, emphasizing how altered environmental conditions favor pest proliferation. It highlights specific pests, such as Spodoptera frugiperda and Nilaparvata lugens, which have shown significant range and behavior shifts due to climate variations. Sustainable strategies, including integrated pest management, climate-resilient crop varieties, advanced biocontrol methods, and technological innovations such as AI-based monitoring, are proposed to mitigate these challenges.
Policy recommendations underscore the need for global collaborations, increased research funding, and farmer-centric education to develop adaptive measures. By adopting these solutions, agricultural systems can better withstand the growing threats posed by pests under changing climatic conditions, ensuring sustainable crop production and global food security.