An increase in the average temperature on Earth by even 2 degrees Celsius, according to scientists, will lead to the fact that insects will destroy many more crops, writes The Guardian.
Warming increases insect populations and appetite, and researchers predict that if Earth's atmosphere rises by 2 degrees Celsius, they will kill nearly 50% more wheat and 30% more corn than today. Rice, the third staple grain, is less affected because it is grown in the tropics, which are already close to the optimum temperature for insects. Although pests will still increase their diet by 20%.
As a result of warming by 2 degrees Celsius, grain yields are expected to decrease by about 10%, and the increase in pest damage will be another 4 - 8%. With 800 million people chronically hungry today and the world's population rising to 10 billion, insect damage will worsen food security and could lead to hunger. The overall picture is that temperate regions will suffer the most. In Europe, more than a 75 percent increase in pest losses is projected. In Russia, which is a large wheat producer, losses will grow by 10% to 16%. In warmer regions, insects are expected to kill another 200 million tons of grain worldwide.
The study used data from 38 species of insects. A significant increase in the number of pests should lead to actions aimed at combating climate change, says the material.