Effects of climate change on insect phenology

Abstract Climate change has affected insect phenology substantially, causing increased or decreased phenological synchronization between species in natural and managed ecosystems. Phenological mismatches can be induced by different environments that interacting species experience or by differences in climate sensitivity among species. Insect phenology can shift due to the changes in metabolic and developmental responses to climate change. Phenological shifts may result in advanced spring emergence and delayed winter diapause, causing variation in voltinism in some species. Consequently, insect abundance may either increase due to the additional generations or decline or even go extinct due to “developmental/ecological traps.” At the community and ecosystem levels, phenological mismatches between species may modify interspecific antagonistic and mutualistic interactions, leading to changes in structure, functioning and provision of biocontrol and pollination ecosystem services. These phenological shifts may also offer promising opportunities for implementing engineering ecological methods (e.g., plant diversity manipulation) for improving these ecosystem services.