Influence of Climate Change on Quality of Urban Pest Management. (1st June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dhang, Partho
• Is Part Of: Outlooks on pest management. Volume 28:Number 3(2017:May/Jun.)
• Page Start: 123
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2017-06-01
• Subjects: Pesticides -- Periodicals; Pesticides -- Application -- Periodicals; 632.905
• DOI: 10.1564/v28_jun_07
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-1034

Abstract

Climate change is having a significant effect on urban pests. Increasing temperature, the primary effect of climate change, is now playing a role in determining not only geographical distributions and population dynamics of pests, but also their management using pesticides. Pesticides are the single most important intervention method in all pest control activities. Urban pest control currently uses insecticides not only to keep human diseases and damage in check, but also to keep nuisance pests away from vicinity. Pesticides are also incorporated into paints, furnishing, furniture, screens and other household items to achieve various levels of control. The property of a pesticide formulation is generally determined by its active ingredient. The active ingredient is mixed with other non-insecticidal materials to produce a concentrate formulation which is further diluted in water for use. Formulation helps application, handling, storage, and safety. However, various chemical and physical properties of the formulation such as stability, vaporization, penetration, activity, and degradation are dependent on temperature. A review of literature shows that effects of insecticides are more rapid on insects at higher temperatures, although not always in a linear relationship with temperature. Temperature has shown a positive effect on organochlorine, organophosphate and carbamates in general, but has shown negative effect on synthetic pyrethroids. The effects of temperature on the efficacy of insecticides on various urban pest species can be found in the literature. A few of these studies are also attempts to evaluate the subject with relevance to climate change. It is however felt from the available literature, that climate change would affect the efficacy of insecticides significantly and alter the result of pest control action through changes in temperature. Temperature will influence storage, transportation, application and efficacy of most insecticides. The following examples indicate that the temperature has a significant synergistic influence on efficacy of insecticides against urban pests.