For Every 1C Increase In Temperatures, Insects Will Consume 2.5% More Of World's Rice, Corn, Wheat
LONDON, Aug 30 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A warming planet will see larger swarms of hungrier insects chomp through millions more tons of rice, maize and wheat crops globally by 2050, even if countries meet ambitious climate goals to curb carbon emissions, scientists said on Thursday.
For every one degree Celsius (1.8F) rise in average temperatures, insects will consume an extra 2.5 percent of the world's rice, maize and wheat crops, researchers said.
That means a 2-degree Celsius rise in surface temperature would see a total loss of 213 million tons of these staple crops - up from 166 million tons today - according to the study published in the journal Science.
"Temperate regions are currently cooler than what's optimal for most insects. But if temperatures rise, these insect populations will grow faster," said co-author Scott Merrill, a researcher at the University of Vermont. "They will also need to eat more, because rising temperatures also increase insect metabolism. Together, that's not good for crops," he said in a statement.
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