Why insects cannot stand the heat of climate change

Climate change is gripping our planet. News headlines proclaim warmer winters and hotter summers, and these changes are impacting Earth’s biodiversity. Have you ever wondered how climate change causes extinctions? This is an important, ongoing research question because understanding how heat impacts living organisms could help us predict how species will cope in a warmer world and give us the knowledge we need to help vulnerable organisms. Insects make honey, pollinate crops, control pests, and recycle waste into nutrients. Despite being numerous and often helpful to humans, insects, and the effects that climate change is having on them, are often overlooked. Due to climate change, heatwaves are becoming more common and intense. In this article, we explore the impact of simulated heatwaves on a beetle species in the laboratory. Keep reading to learn about how heatwaves could cause damage that lasts over generations, potentially leading to extinctions.