Rice-feeding insects in Japan are developing faster as temperatures rise, compressing their life cycles and likely increasing the number of generations per growing season — raising the risk of larger, harder-to-time pest outbreaks on rice crops.
1
Daily mean temperatures in Kyushu, Japan rose at a rate of 2.2–4.5 × 10⁻² °C per year between 1980 and 2022.
2
Developmental periods for both brown planthopper and white-backed planthopper showed a statistically significant shortening trend over the 42-year study (P < 0.01).
3
Temperature and developmental period length were strongly correlated (P < 0.001), directly linking warming climate to faster insect life cycles.
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