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Global Warming Could Trigger Insect Population Boom
Live Science ^ | 11/08/06

Posted on 11/10/2006 8:14:02 AM PST by presidio9

A rise in the Earth’s temperature could lead to an increase in the number of insects worldwide, with potentially dire consequences for humans, a new study suggests.

New research shows that insect species living in warmer areas are more likely to undergo rapid population growth because they have higher metabolic rates and reproduce more frequently. The finding has scientists concerned that global warming could give rise to more fast-growing insect populations and that we could see a spike in the number of six-legged critters.

The consequences could be more serious than just a few extra bug bites each summer. “If they’re crop species, we could count on needing to use more pesticides and it could be very costly,” said Melanie Frazier, a doctoral student at the University of Washington and lead author of the study.

Insect-borne diseases are also a worry. Malaria, Lyme Disease and a host of others rely on insect vectors to spread among humans, and a swell in their populations could mean more infections.

Already, scientists have observed a widening of malarial zones with new cases appearing in previously unaffected areas. The change is thought to be due to rising temperatures and an expansion of areas habitable for mosquitoes. The new research, detailed in the October issue of The American Naturalist, shows rising temperatures would mean insects would not only spread out, but also multiply more quickly.

Still, Frazier says it’s too soon to predict which species will adapt and which might even face extinction. She and her colleagues looked at 65 insect species and found a correlation between warm climes and population growth across the board – but, she cautioned, the scientists have no way of predicting which species will eventually adapt to new, warmer areas.

We won’t have to wait long to find out. Insects adapt quickly, so we will likely see changes within our lifetime, Frazier says.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: backoffimascientist; globalwarming; globalwarmingtheory; quitbuggingme; whateverwesayitmeans
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To: presidio9
Folks, these wackos must stay up late at night making this stuff up.
61 posted on 11/10/2006 1:05:00 PM PST by Uncle Hal
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To: pepsionice

I need you to get that grant because this just might happen; and we need to be on top of things.

I might win the next Miss America, so y'all should be really nice to me.

I also might win the next huge lottery.


62 posted on 11/10/2006 3:43:20 PM PST by bannie
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To: edcoil
In the food chain of life, doesn't it make sense that if there are more insects, there will be more insect eaters.

Bring on the frogs, bats and birds!

63 posted on 11/10/2006 5:50:56 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: Repeal The 17th
But what does more birds equal?

More cats.

64 posted on 11/10/2006 5:52:18 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: presidio9

The are blaming the recent bee hive collapse disorder on global warming, that is the honey bees are dying because they are too hot. Now they say global warming will cause an explosion of insects. Wish they would make up thier minds, harder to hit a moving target.


65 posted on 05/11/2007 11:02:55 AM PDT by ItsTheMediaStupid
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