Effect of Climate Change and Weather Patterns on Insect Migration in India: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Climate change and altered weather patterns increasingly influence insect migration, pest outbreaks, pollinator activity, and vector distribution in India. This review examines the major climatic drivers affecting insect movement, with an emphasis on rising temperatures, monsoon variability, unseasonal rainfall, drought, cyclones, and other extreme weather events. The manuscript focuses on key migratory or climate-sensitive insect groups, including desert locust, fall armyworm, butterflies, honeybees, mosquitoes, and dragonflies, and discusses their ecological, agricultural, and public health relevance. Evidence presented in the review indicates that warming conditions can accelerate insect development, modify seasonal activity, extend breeding periods, and enable range expansion into new agro-climatic zones. Irregular monsoon patterns and extreme weather events can further influence breeding success, migration timing, dispersal routes, and outbreak intensity. Migratory pests such as desert locust and fall armyworm pose risks to crop production, whereas changes in pollinator movement and abundance can affect pollination-dependent crops. Climate-sensitive mosquito vectors can also expand into areas where temperature and humidity conditions become favourable. The review highlights the importance of improved surveillance, climate-linked forecasting, geospatial tools, radar-based monitoring, ecological niche modelling, and long-term insect migration datasets. It also emphasizes the need for integrated approaches involving entomology, climatology, agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and public health. Strengthening climate-resilient monitoring systems and adaptive management strategies is essential for reducing risks associated with climate-driven insect migration in India.