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Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 12 No. sp1 (2025): Recent Advances in Agriculture by Young Minds - II

Climate resilience in natural enemies: Key players of ecological control

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.8943
Submitted
17 April 2025
Published
07-10-2025

Abstract

Natural enemies, such as predators and parasitoids, are essential for good agricultural ecosystems by regulating pest populations and maintaining ecological balance, which helps in reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and promotes sustainable farming practices. Climate change affects these organisms, disturbing insect distribution patterns, causing changes in their life cycles and potentially misaligning natural enemies with hosts or prey due to shifts in environmental conditions. Such disruptions reduce their effectiveness in pest control, undermining agroecosystem balance. However, generalist natural enemies (e.g., lacewings, spiders, ladybugs) can adapt more flexibly to climate shifts due to their broader diet and habitat range, offering resilience against such changes. The review explores strategies to enhance the climate resilience of natural enemies, including habitat management and conservation practices they depend on. Proactive measures to safeguard these organisms are vital for maintaining their role in pest regulation despite climate change. Strengthening the adaptability of natural enemies can ensure continued natural, sustainable pest control, supporting food security, sustainable agricultural practices and biodiversity protection. The paper also elaborates on how climate-smart pest management (CSPM) can improve pest control as the climate changes. By helping these organisms adapt through CSPM, these beneficial insects may continue to play a key role in natural pest management, which supports food security, sustainable farming and biodiversity and the environment.

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