Climate Warming Increases the Voltinism of Pine Caterpillar (<i>Dendrolimus spectabilis</i> Butler): Model Predictions Across Elevations and Latitudes in Shandong Province, China

The pine caterpillar (<i>Dendrolimus spectabilis</i> Bulter, Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) is a destructive insect threatening forest communities across Eurasia. The pest is polyvoltine, and under global warming, more favorable temperatures can lead to additional generations. Here, we simu...

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Main Authors: Yongbin Bao, Teri Gele, Xingpeng Liu, Zhijun Tong, Jiquan Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/249
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author Yongbin Bao
Teri Gele
Xingpeng Liu
Zhijun Tong
Jiquan Zhang
author_facet Yongbin Bao
Teri Gele
Xingpeng Liu
Zhijun Tong
Jiquan Zhang
author_sort Yongbin Bao
collection DOAJ
description The pine caterpillar (<i>Dendrolimus spectabilis</i> Bulter, Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) is a destructive insect threatening forest communities across Eurasia. The pest is polyvoltine, and under global warming, more favorable temperatures can lead to additional generations. Here, we simulated the pine caterpillar voltinism under current and future climatic scenarios based on insect thermal physiology and cumulative growing degree day (CGDD) model. Subsequently, we revealed the future change patterns of the voltinism along elevational and latitudinal gradients. The results showed that both CGDD and pine caterpillar voltinism are increasing. The current voltinism of pine caterpillar ranges from 1.26 to 1.56 generations (1.40 ± 0.07), with an increasing trend of 0.04/10a. Similar trends are expected to continue under the future climate scenarios, with values of 0.01/10a, 0.05/10a, 0.07/10a, and 0.09/10a for the SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively. At the elevation and latitudinal gradients, voltinism increases across all ranges, peaking at 500–1000 m and latitudes of 34–34.5° N. This study highlights that the increase in voltinism is not limited to low-elevation and -latitude regions but is predicted across various elevations and latitudes. These findings can enhance our understanding of how climate change affects pine caterpillar voltinism and contribute to forest pest management strategies, although this study assumes a linear relationship between temperature and voltinism, without considering other ecological factors.
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spelling doaj-art-d4f7dd94879443b6b4890760fceac4e02025-08-20T01:48:46ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-02-0116324910.3390/insects16030249Climate Warming Increases the Voltinism of Pine Caterpillar (<i>Dendrolimus spectabilis</i> Butler): Model Predictions Across Elevations and Latitudes in Shandong Province, ChinaYongbin Bao0Teri Gele1Xingpeng Liu2Zhijun Tong3Jiquan Zhang4School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, ChinaSchool of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, ChinaSchool of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, ChinaSchool of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, ChinaSchool of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, ChinaThe pine caterpillar (<i>Dendrolimus spectabilis</i> Bulter, Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) is a destructive insect threatening forest communities across Eurasia. The pest is polyvoltine, and under global warming, more favorable temperatures can lead to additional generations. Here, we simulated the pine caterpillar voltinism under current and future climatic scenarios based on insect thermal physiology and cumulative growing degree day (CGDD) model. Subsequently, we revealed the future change patterns of the voltinism along elevational and latitudinal gradients. The results showed that both CGDD and pine caterpillar voltinism are increasing. The current voltinism of pine caterpillar ranges from 1.26 to 1.56 generations (1.40 ± 0.07), with an increasing trend of 0.04/10a. Similar trends are expected to continue under the future climate scenarios, with values of 0.01/10a, 0.05/10a, 0.07/10a, and 0.09/10a for the SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively. At the elevation and latitudinal gradients, voltinism increases across all ranges, peaking at 500–1000 m and latitudes of 34–34.5° N. This study highlights that the increase in voltinism is not limited to low-elevation and -latitude regions but is predicted across various elevations and latitudes. These findings can enhance our understanding of how climate change affects pine caterpillar voltinism and contribute to forest pest management strategies, although this study assumes a linear relationship between temperature and voltinism, without considering other ecological factors.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/249climate changeclimate scenariosvoltinismpine caterpillarresponse
spellingShingle Yongbin Bao
Teri Gele
Xingpeng Liu
Zhijun Tong
Jiquan Zhang
Climate Warming Increases the Voltinism of Pine Caterpillar (<i>Dendrolimus spectabilis</i> Butler): Model Predictions Across Elevations and Latitudes in Shandong Province, China
Insects
climate change
climate scenarios
voltinism
pine caterpillar
response
title Climate Warming Increases the Voltinism of Pine Caterpillar (<i>Dendrolimus spectabilis</i> Butler): Model Predictions Across Elevations and Latitudes in Shandong Province, China
title_full Climate Warming Increases the Voltinism of Pine Caterpillar (<i>Dendrolimus spectabilis</i> Butler): Model Predictions Across Elevations and Latitudes in Shandong Province, China
title_fullStr Climate Warming Increases the Voltinism of Pine Caterpillar (<i>Dendrolimus spectabilis</i> Butler): Model Predictions Across Elevations and Latitudes in Shandong Province, China
title_full_unstemmed Climate Warming Increases the Voltinism of Pine Caterpillar (<i>Dendrolimus spectabilis</i> Butler): Model Predictions Across Elevations and Latitudes in Shandong Province, China
title_short Climate Warming Increases the Voltinism of Pine Caterpillar (<i>Dendrolimus spectabilis</i> Butler): Model Predictions Across Elevations and Latitudes in Shandong Province, China
title_sort climate warming increases the voltinism of pine caterpillar i dendrolimus spectabilis i butler model predictions across elevations and latitudes in shandong province china
topic climate change
climate scenarios
voltinism
pine caterpillar
response
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/249
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