Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 29, 2025
09:45
Harvesting Venom Toxins from Assassin Bugs and Other Heteropteran Insects
Published on: April 21, 2018
13.6K
Insect Migration and Changes in Venom Allergy due to Climate Change.
1Department of Pediatrics, Allergy Asthma & Immunology Center of Alaska, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America
|November 24, 2020
Summary
Global warming is causing stinging insects to expand their ranges toward the poles. This increased distribution will likely lead to more human-insect interactions and sting-related incidents.
Area of Science:
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- Zoology
- Climate Change Biology
Background:
- Insects are ectothermic, relying on external sources for temperature regulation.
- Rising global temperatures due to climate change are altering environmental conditions.
- The distribution and range of insect species are sensitive to temperature fluctuations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of rising global temperatures on insect distribution.
- To investigate the expansion of stinging insect ranges in response to warming.
- To highlight the potential increase in human-insect interactions and related health concerns.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature and observational data.
- Analysis of range shifts in various stinging insect species.
- Correlation of observed range expansions with documented temperature increases.
Main Results:
- Evidence indicates significant poleward range expansion in numerous stinging insect species.
- Warming temperatures are the primary driver for these observed geographical shifts.
- Increased presence of stinging insects in previously unoccupied regions is documented.
Conclusions:
- Climate change is actively reshaping insect populations and their geographical distributions.
- Expanded ranges of stinging insects heighten the probability of encounters with humans.
- Anticipate a rise in sting-related allergic reactions and the need for medical interventions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
00:53Migration
8.4K
Migration is long-range, seasonal movement from one region or habitat to another. This common strategy, carried out by many different organisms around the world, is an adaptive response that typically corresponds to changes in an organism’s environment, like resource availability or climate. Migrations can involve huge groups of thousands of animals as well as single individuals traveling alone and can range from thousands of kilometers to just a few hundred meters.
8.4K
02:06Allergic Reactions
30.4K
Overview
30.4K
01:50Global Climate Change
28.1K
Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
28.1K
01:09Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift
61.0K
In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).
61.0K
01:47Osmoregulation in Insects
17.1K
Malpighian tubules are specialized structures found in the digestive systems of many arthropods, including most insects, that handle excretion and osmoregulation. The tubules are typically arranged in pairs and have a convoluted structure that increases their surface area.
17.1K
02:39Predator-Prey Interactions
20.3K
Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.
20.3K