Rising temperatures in Türkiye fueling insect population growth: Expert | Partners | Belarus News | Belarusian news | Belarus today | news in Belarus | Minsk news | BELTA
ISTANBUL, 16 August (BelTA -Anadolu) — Rising temperatures driven by
climate change are causing insect populations to surge across Türkiye,
with significant implications for ecosystems, agriculture and public
health, according to a Turkish expert.
«Warmer climates increase
insects’ metabolic rates, allowing them to reproduce faster,» Hamit
Ayberk, an expert in forest entomology at Istanbul University,
Cerrahpasa, told Anadolu.
«For instance, mosquitoes breed more
quickly in warm environments and reach larger populations. Climate
change in Türkiye is having significant effects on insects and other
ecosystems,» he added.
Ayberk noted that the increase in the
insect population is particularly evident in major cities where the
«urban heat island» effect exacerbates the problem.
Buildings,
roads and other structures absorb solar energy, leading to higher
temperatures than in rural areas, he said, warning that it could have
severe ecological and public health consequences.
Ayberk pointed out that climate change is also causing an uptick in insect species harmful to agriculture.
«The
number of insect species that damage agricultural products is rising in
Türkiye. This situation forces farmers to use more pesticides, which in
turn reduces agricultural productivity,» he said.
Public health
is also at risk due to the increased presence of disease-carrying
insects like mosquitoes, according to the expert.
«With rising
temperatures, the populations of insects that transmit diseases, such as
mosquitoes, may increase and spread to new regions, posing serious
public health issues,» he said.
Ayberk stressed the importance of preserving green spaces to support natural predators of insects, such as birds and bats.
That,
along with effective waste management and drainage systems, could help
mitigate the effect of rising insect populations, he noted.
To address the challenges, Ayberk emphasized the need for public education.
«People should be informed about simple hygiene measures they can take at home and in their surroundings,» he said
Raising
awareness through educational programs in schools could also play a
critical role in controlling insect populations, he added.
