{"id":394906,"date":"2025-08-13T09:39:30","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T07:39:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=394906"},"modified":"2025-08-13T09:39:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T07:39:31","slug":"another-eye-roller-of-a-climate-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=394906","title":{"rendered":"Another Eye-Roller of a Climate Study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Anthony Watts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From the \u201cWhy do we care that agricultural pests can\u2019t lay eggs properly? \u2013 Oh wait, we don\u2019t!<\/em>\u201d department\u2026and Eurekalert<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rising carbon dioxide level disrupts insects\u2019 ability to choose optimal egg-laying sites<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate change is rapidly reshaping ecosystems across the globe, and new research has identified a previously unrecognized consequence: disrupted insect reproductive behavior. A recent study published in National Science Review<\/em> reveals that rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2<\/sub>) levels are interfering with how agricultural pests choose egg-laying sites\u2014posing significant risks to biodiversity, food security, and pest management strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insects, despite their adaptability, are especially sensitive to shifts in environmental conditions. As global temperatures rise and atmospheric composition changes, their behavior is changing in ways that ripple through ecosystems. CO2<\/sub>, the primary greenhouse gas driving global warming, has increased from 278 ppm in 1750 to approximately 420 ppm in 2023. Emerging evidence shows that elevated CO2\u00a0<\/sub>levels\u2014alongside pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen oxides\u2014are disrupting insects\u2019 ability to detect chemical cues essential for reproduction and survival. Until now, the underlying mechanisms remained poorly understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, an international collaborative study by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and the Max Planck Institute has provided key insights. Focusing on\u00a0Helicoverpa armigera<\/em>\u2014the cotton bollworm, a major global crop pest\u2014the team discovered that females normally use plant-emitted CO2<\/sub>\u00a0to locate suitable egg-laying sites, particularly favoring younger leaves that emit higher CO2<\/sub>\u00a0gradients. These sites are critical for larval survival and development. However, under elevated atmospheric CO2<\/sub>\u00a0concentrations, this behavior is significantly disrupted. The study found that moths\u2019 CO2<\/sub>-sensing ability is impaired, causing them to lay eggs in less suitable locations. \u201cThis disruption is akin to confusing a key olfactory cue from a GPS system,\u201d said Prof. Guirong Wang, lead author of the study. \u201cWithout accurate CO2<\/sub>\u00a0signals, the insects struggle to find ideal egg-laying sites, which could affect pest population dynamics and agricultural damage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To understand the biological basis for this disruption, the researchers identified three CO2<\/sub>-detecting gustatory receptors\u2014HarmGR1, HarmGR2, and HarmGR3. When any of these receptors were genetically deleted, the moths\u2019 ability to detect CO2<\/sub>\u00a0impaired, resulting in disoriented egg-laying behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The study\u2019s simulations paint a worrying future: if atmospheric CO2<\/sub> reaches 1000 ppm by 2100, moths\u2019 preference for optimal egg-laying sites could drop by up to 75%. This would likely reduce larval survival, destabilize pest populations, and alter biodiversity and ecological balance.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Illustration
Schematic representation of the sensory mechanisms underlying CO2<\/sub>-induced oviposition behavior in\u00a0Helicoverpa armigera<\/em>. Abbreviations: LPO, labial pit organ; LPOG, labial pit organ glomerulus; CB, central body; Ca, calyx of the mushroom body; LH, lateral horn; AN, antennal nerve. Credit \u00a9Science China Press<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Beyond the alarming ecological implications, these findings point to new opportunities. \u201cBy targeting the CO2<\/sub> receptors, we can explore novel, eco-friendly pest control strategies,\u201d said Dr. Qiuyan Cheng, first author of the paper. One promising approach is RNA interference (RNAi), a gene-silencing technique already used in mosquito control, which could disrupt pest reproduction without harmful chemicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study adds to growing evidence that climate change is influencing insect behavior in complex and unexpected ways\u2014not only through temperature shifts but also via direct changes to atmospheric chemistry. With global CO2<\/sub>\u00a0levels on track to exceed 1000 ppm by the end of the century, researchers stress the urgent need for both emissions reductions and innovative agricultural adaptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Journal<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

National Science Review DOI 10.1093\/nsr\/nwaf270 <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From the \u201cWhy do we care that agricultural pests can\u2019t lay eggs properly? \u2013 Oh wait, we don\u2019t!\u201d department\u2026and\u00a0Eurekalert.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":394911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691829997,691837235,691818056,691818087,691837237,691837236],"class_list":{"0":"post-394906","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-carbon-dioxide-co","9":"tag-chinese-academy-of-agricultural-sciences","10":"tag-climate-change","11":"tag-global-warming","12":"tag-helicoverpa-armigera","13":"tag-national-science-review","15":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AQOfkd6UTh06r19sAIITcV0WnBpItcTDIrPR7FcFHsp0SKCOf7TfvK8BqgIVy13UyugSRzSbob6cOGOxR9Lkc6ykoJFx6AER7bSL-01QThGh3agANwnHcsf-jZbjsEhmMKQtLrLcl-PDKqj93eGtCzVIag.jpeg?fit=1280%2C1280&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1EJs","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":209175,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=209175","url_meta":{"origin":394906,"position":0},"title":"Review 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of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Biden Administration\"","block_context":{"text":"Biden Administration","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=biden-administration"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/00Screenshot-2025-02-07-181427.png?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/00Screenshot-2025-02-07-181427.png?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/00Screenshot-2025-02-07-181427.png?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/00Screenshot-2025-02-07-181427.png?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/00Screenshot-2025-02-07-181427.png?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 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policy","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=agricultural-policy"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0559327.story_x_large.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0559327.story_x_large.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0559327.story_x_large.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0559327.story_x_large.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0559327.story_x_large.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":365297,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=365297","url_meta":{"origin":394906,"position":3},"title":"Paper Exposes 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Targets for abuse are ruminant animals, including cattle and sheep, that produce methane (CH4) through enteric fermentation \u2014 a natural digestive process that converts grass into protein-rich meat and milk\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"anti-methane assaults\"","block_context":{"text":"anti-methane assaults","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=anti-methane-assaults"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0-Farming.jpeg?fit=1200%2C699&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0-Farming.jpeg?fit=1200%2C699&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0-Farming.jpeg?fit=1200%2C699&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0-Farming.jpeg?fit=1200%2C699&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0-Farming.jpeg?fit=1200%2C699&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":368051,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=368051","url_meta":{"origin":394906,"position":4},"title":"False, Forbes, Climate Change Is Not Threatening Food Security","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"28\/02\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Forbes\u2019 recent article,\u00a0\u201cClimate Change Threatens Food Security\u2014Can Data Be the Real Hero?\u201d\u00a0pushes a familiar but misleading claim: that climate change poses a significant threat to global food production. This narrative is not only false, but it also implies just the opposite of what is true. Real-world agricultural data, and the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)\"","block_context":{"text":"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=carbon-dioxide-co%e2%82%82"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0Screenshot-2025-02-28-172139.png?fit=1028%2C898&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0Screenshot-2025-02-28-172139.png?fit=1028%2C898&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0Screenshot-2025-02-28-172139.png?fit=1028%2C898&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0Screenshot-2025-02-28-172139.png?fit=1028%2C898&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":352091,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=352091","url_meta":{"origin":394906,"position":5},"title":"No, Atlanta News First, Climate Change is Not Threatening the \u201cWay of Life\u201d of Georgia Farmers","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"23\/11\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"A November 18 article by Atlanta News First (ANF) claims that climate change is affecting Georgia\u2019s farmers and the restaurants that depend on local produce. This is demonstrably false. Empirical data of temperature and crop yields refute the claim.","rel":"","context":"In \"Atlanta News First (ANF)\"","block_context":{"text":"Atlanta News First (ANF)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=atlanta-news-first-anf"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0-Georgia-Farmers.jpg?fit=1200%2C429&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0-Georgia-Farmers.jpg?fit=1200%2C429&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0-Georgia-Farmers.jpg?fit=1200%2C429&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0-Georgia-Farmers.jpg?fit=1200%2C429&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0-Georgia-Farmers.jpg?fit=1200%2C429&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394906","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=394906"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394906\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":394914,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394906\/revisions\/394914"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/394911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=394906"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=394906"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=394906"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}