How do you rate climate change today?

Since a few decades, the planet earth has changed so much that it has altered the average annual temperature and precipitation, increasing the number of droughts, heat waves, floods, melting glaciers and rising sea levels.

But how has it affected insects?

Insects are ectothermic animals, that is, they do not produce their own heat and depend on the environmental temperature to regulate their body temperature, with this condition making insects very vulnerable to global warming. Due to their very short life cycles, short extreme weather episodes such as heat waves or seasonal temperature variations may have effects on their development, movement, reproduction and behaviour.

According to research, it has been possible to understand the physiological mechanisms that respond within the insect’s body and that allow them to face temperature variations, such as changes in respiration, the use of antioxidants or certain proteins that protect them from heat. In addition, it has been possible to determine the effects on their life cycles, on the genetic composition, hybridization, distribution and abundance of their populations.

In addition, due to the increase and fluctuation of temperature, it also has an effect on the geographic distribution of insects , which can cause nearby species, which previously lived geographically isolated, to come into contact and reproduce (hybridize) in other areas.

Protect yourself from these insects with an effective repellent , avoid the spread of diseases, even those that previously did not reach certain areas.

So, remember that in general terms, the scientific evidence suggests that the repercussions of global warming on insect populations will depend on how disturbed their habitats are, as well as their ability to respond to the increase in temperature.

How are you taking care of yourself?