UW-Led Research Finds Unprecedented Levels of Insects Damaging Plants

According to new research led by University of Wyoming scientists, insects today are causing unprecedented levels of damage to plants, even as insect numbers continue to decline. The first-of-its-kind study compares insect herbivore damage of modern-era plants with that of fossilized leaves from as far back as the Late Cretaceous period, nearly 67 million years ago.

The study examined fossilized leaves with insect feeding damage from the Late Cretaceous through the Pleistocene era, a little over two million years ago, and compared them with leaves collected by the lead researcher from three modern forests. The detailed research looked at different types of damage caused by insects, finding marked increases in all recent damage compared to the fossil record.

The results of the study demonstrate that plants in the modern era are experiencing unprecedented levels of insect damage, despite widespread insect declines and that the disparity can be explained by human activity. More research is necessary to determine the precise causes of increased insect damage to plants, but the scientists say a warming climate, urbanization and introduction of invasive species likely have had a major impact. The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal. You can access the study here.