Food Science and Agriculture: Research Highlights Vol. 7

Climate change is profoundly influencing the incidence, distribution, and severity of insect pests in pulse-based production systems, thereby threatening food and nutritional security. Pulses, which are rich in protein, dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals, occupy a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture and human nutrition. India, being the world’s leading producer and consumer of pulses, has achieved remarkable growth in pulse production; however, productivity losses caused by insect pests continue to remain a major challenge. Insect pests account for nearly 26–30% potential yield losses in pulses under field conditions, while storage pests contribute significantly to quantitative and qualitative deterioration during post-harvest storage. Changing climatic conditions, including rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and altered humidity regimes, have accelerated pest outbreaks, expanded pest geographical ranges, disrupted natural enemy complexes, and increased the frequency of pest resurgence and insecticide resistance. Major field pests such as Helicoverpa armigera, Maruca vitrata, Melanogromyza obtusa, sucking pests, mites, and storage bruchids have emerged as serious constraints to pulse productivity under climate variability. Therefore, climate-resilient pest management strategies integrating ecological, biological, cultural, mechanical, and need-based chemical approaches are essential for sustainable pulse production. The present chapter highlights the biology, damage symptoms, and ecology of major insect pests of pulses under field and storage conditions, with emphasis on climate-driven changes in pest dynamics. Further, it discusses integrated pest management (IPM) approaches including resistant varieties, intercropping, habitat manipulation, biological control agents, botanicals, pheromone-based monitoring, and judicious use of selective insecticides. Adoption of climate-smart and eco-friendly pest management strategies can reduce crop losses, minimize pesticide dependence, conserve biodiversity, and enhance resilience of pulse production systems. Strengthening integrated and adaptive pest management approaches will be critical to ensuring sustainable pulse productivity, nutritional security, and livelihood resilience under changing climatic scenarios.