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Nature Research, Nature Communications, 1(7), 2016

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12986

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Massive yet grossly underestimated global costs of invasive insects

Journal article published in 2016 by Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Boris Leroy ORCID, Céline Bellard, David Roiz ORCID, Céline Albert, Alice Fournier, Morgane Barbet-Massin, Jean-Michel Salles, Frédéric Simard, Franck Courchamp
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Published 4 Oct 2016 ; Insects have presented the human society with some of its greatest development challenges by spreading diseases, consuming crops and damaging infrastructure. Despite the massive human and financial toll of invasive insects, cost estimates of their impacts remain sporadic, spatially incomplete and of questionable quality. Here we compile a comprehensive database of economic costs of invasive insects. Taking all reported goods and service estimates, invasive insects cost a minimum of US$70.0 billion per year globally, while associated health costs exceed US$6.9 billion per year. Total costs rise as the number of estimate increases, although many of the worst costs have already been estimated (especially those related to human health). A lack of dedicated studies, especially for reproducible goods and service estimates, implies gross underestimation of global costs. Global warming as a consequence of climate change, rising human population densities and intensifying international trade will allow these costly insects to spread into new areas, but substantial savings could be achieved by increasing surveillance, containment and public awareness. ; Corey J.A. Bradshaw, Boris Leroy, Céline Bellard, David Roiz, Céline Albert, Alice Fournier, Morgane Barbet-Massin, Jean-Michel Salles, Frédéric Simard and Franck Courchamp