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Fire and Insects: Similarities and Intersections Between Mother Nature’s Most Impressive Forces

Fire and Insects: Similarities and Intersections Between Mother Nature’s Most Impressive Forces Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/67/3/64/6366606 by DeepDyve user on 14 September 2021 ZYZZYVA ENTOMOLOGY AND SOCIETY provided me an opportunity to study bee pol- linators during the intense smoke and fi res. However, this also made me think about the varying types of transitions that shape the ECP journey. As I now embark on a major Fire and Insects: Similarities and transition to a faculty position in the south- eastern United States, I feel those dueling Intersections Between Mother elements of destruction and rejuvenation. For early-career professionals, diffi cult and Nature’s Most Impressive Forces uncertain transitions are constantly loom- ing. Lesser transitions help us grow while Priyadarshini Chakrabarti Basu maintaining stability, but they have smaller overall impacts, analogous to the eff ects of prescribed, low-intensity fi res. The big transi- nsects and wildfi res are two of Mother tions feel more like full- edged wildfi fl res, full Nature’s most extreme forces, so their of chaos and destruction. However, from the IN NATURE, THEIR POTENTIAL FOR relationship is extremely complicated. rubble, we rebuild our lives with a renewed DEVASTATION OR REJUVENATION Both can be naturally occurring or enthusiasm and perspective. The adversities SHAPES ENTIRE ECOSYSTEMS. human-induced, and either can cause an in our lives tend to help forge a path forward. outbreak of the other. In nature, their poten- All of these forces, big and small, good and tial for devastation or rejuvenation shapes bad, help us move ahead and succeed. low-intensity fi res (usually thought to be entire ecosystems. I cannot help but contem- plate whether these forces are a metaphor benefi cial) can scar trees, encouraging patho- Priyadarshini Chakrabarti Basu, Assistant for the many career and personal challenges gens that weaken trees and make them an Professor of Entomology, Department of early-career professionals face as they navi- easy target for insect attack. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology gate through academia, industry, and various The measurable impacts of each wildfi re and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State Univer- other entomological pursuits. event, both good and bad, depend on the sity, Mississippi State and Starkville. E-mail: Insects and fi res both are vital to the stabil- habitat, the intensity of the fi re, and the spe- pb1090@msstate.edu. ity and resilience of natural ecosystems, espe- cies present. Studies show confl icting results cially forests. However, they both also can about how diff erent insect populations are DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmab041 be termed nuisances, depending on general impacted by wildfi res. Benefi cial insects, perceptions. With our limited understanding such as pollinators, may be aff ected by either References Cited Black, S. 2020. Forests, fires, and insects. Xerces of prehistoric wildfi res and survival of forests the direct heat and fi re itself, or indirectly by Society Blog, 19 December 2020. https://xerces. throughout eons, we can at least derive infor- the smoke, which can prevent pollinators org/blog/forests-fires-and-insects (accessed 3 mation from the Earth’s recent history of from fl ying and impair their vision. Imperiled June 2021). r fi es. A recent report suggests that the extent bee species, ground-dwelling solitary species, Crawford, B., and E. Peterson. 1998. Insects and of area burnt by wildfi res has increased since and bees nesting in the trunks are at higher the wildfires of 1998: risk of additional losses the 1980s (EPA 2021). In addition to their risk due to direct exposure to fi re and/or and management strategies for recovery. size and frequency, wildfi res seem to be get- heat (Black 2020). However, at least one https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/foltz/eny3541/fire/ ting hotter and more dangerous each year. study has also shown that populations of fires98.htm (accessed 10 June 2021). From a human perspective, full-canopy fi res ants and beetles were rarely aff ected by low- (EPA) United States Environmental Protection cause extensive damage to forests, property, intensity, prescribed fi res, and that beetle Agency. 2021. Climate Change Indicators: Wildfires. https:/ /www .epa.gov / climate-indicators/ and often human life, but the relationship populations were thriving after a couple of climate-change-indicators-wildfires#:~:text= between fi res and insects is more complex. weeks (Ulyshen et al. 2020). Prescribed burns The%20extent%20of%20area%20burned,2015%20 Although wildfi res cause great harm to many can thus potentially create fi re corridors and (see%20Figure%20 (accessed 13 July 2021). insects, some insect species take advantage control pests, but they can also inadvertently Goodman, K., and K.W. McCravy. 2008. Pyrophilous of wildfi res, making this complex association destroy nesting sites or cause mortality in insects. In J.L. Capinera (ed.). Encyclopedia even more interesting. Certain insects are non-target forest dwellers. It’s complicated! of entomology. Springer, Dordrecht. https:// attracted to the fl ames. For example, some Beyond the immediate eff ects on forests doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_3272 jewel beetles (Buprestidae) and other pyroph- and forest inhabitants (including insects), (accessed 3 June 2021). ilous insects have special sensory receptors rfi es have far-reaching impacts on human Hart, S. 1998. Beetle mania: an attraction to fire. that allow them to detect and colonize newly society. I spent the past four years living in BioScience 48: 1–5. Lynch, A.M. 2012. Forest insects and wildland burnt forests (Goodman and McCravy 2008, the Pacifi c Northwest, so I was often sur- fire [PDF presentation]. https://cals.arizona. Hart 1998). Some wood borers and some rounded by forest fi res, including the deadly edu/classes/rnr355/lectures/Lec3_7_2012.pdf bark beetles have an advantage in the post- wildfi res of 2020. Just like any other con- (accessed 31 May 2021). wildfi re forest as they attack the fi re-damaged cerned member of the community, I hun- Ulyshen, M.D., A. Lucky, and T.T. Work. 2020. trees (Lynch 2012, Crawford and Peterson kered down with my family at home during Effects of prescribed fire and social insects 1998), whereas others are more likely to cause the intense smoke, helped friends in need, on saproxylic beetles in a subtropical forest. rfi es by feeding on and desiccating living and donated to post-wildfi re humanitarian Scientific Reports 10: 9630. trees, creating fuel. Even naturally occurring, eff orts. Despite the devastation, this also 64 AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST | FALL 2021 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Entomologist Oxford University Press

Fire and Insects: Similarities and Intersections Between Mother Nature’s Most Impressive Forces

Basu, Priyadarshini Chakrabarti
American Entomologist , Volume 67 (3) – Sep 8, 2021
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Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
Copyright © 2021 Entomological Society of America
ISSN
1046-2821
eISSN
2155-9902
DOI
10.1093/ae/tmab041
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Abstract

Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/67/3/64/6366606 by DeepDyve user on 14 September 2021 ZYZZYVA ENTOMOLOGY AND SOCIETY provided me an opportunity to study bee pol- linators during the intense smoke and fi res. However, this also made me think about the varying types of transitions that shape the ECP journey. As I now embark on a major Fire and Insects: Similarities and transition to a faculty position in the south- eastern United States, I feel those dueling Intersections Between Mother elements of destruction and rejuvenation. For early-career professionals, diffi cult and Nature’s Most Impressive Forces uncertain transitions are constantly loom- ing. Lesser transitions help us grow while Priyadarshini Chakrabarti Basu maintaining stability, but they have smaller overall impacts, analogous to the eff ects of prescribed, low-intensity fi res. The big transi- nsects and wildfi res are two of Mother tions feel more like full- edged wildfi fl res, full Nature’s most extreme forces, so their of chaos and destruction. However, from the IN NATURE, THEIR POTENTIAL FOR relationship is extremely complicated. rubble, we rebuild our lives with a renewed DEVASTATION OR REJUVENATION Both can be naturally occurring or enthusiasm and perspective. The adversities SHAPES ENTIRE ECOSYSTEMS. human-induced, and either can cause an in our lives tend to help forge a path forward. outbreak of the other. In nature, their poten- All of these forces, big and small, good and tial for devastation or rejuvenation shapes bad, help us move ahead and succeed. low-intensity fi res (usually thought to be entire ecosystems. I cannot help but contem- plate whether these forces are a metaphor benefi cial) can scar trees, encouraging patho- Priyadarshini Chakrabarti Basu, Assistant for the many career and personal challenges gens that weaken trees and make them an Professor of Entomology, Department of early-career professionals face as they navi- easy target for insect attack. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology gate through academia, industry, and various The measurable impacts of each wildfi re and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State Univer- other entomological pursuits. event, both good and bad, depend on the sity, Mississippi State and Starkville. E-mail: Insects and fi res both are vital to the stabil- habitat, the intensity of the fi re, and the spe- pb1090@msstate.edu. ity and resilience of natural ecosystems, espe- cies present. Studies show confl icting results cially forests. However, they both also can about how diff erent insect populations are DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmab041 be termed nuisances, depending on general impacted by wildfi res. Benefi cial insects, perceptions. With our limited understanding such as pollinators, may be aff ected by either References Cited Black, S. 2020. Forests, fires, and insects. Xerces of prehistoric wildfi res and survival of forests the direct heat and fi re itself, or indirectly by Society Blog, 19 December 2020. https://xerces. throughout eons, we can at least derive infor- the smoke, which can prevent pollinators org/blog/forests-fires-and-insects (accessed 3 mation from the Earth’s recent history of from fl ying and impair their vision. Imperiled June 2021). r fi es. A recent report suggests that the extent bee species, ground-dwelling solitary species, Crawford, B., and E. Peterson. 1998. Insects and of area burnt by wildfi res has increased since and bees nesting in the trunks are at higher the wildfires of 1998: risk of additional losses the 1980s (EPA 2021). In addition to their risk due to direct exposure to fi re and/or and management strategies for recovery. size and frequency, wildfi res seem to be get- heat (Black 2020). However, at least one https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/foltz/eny3541/fire/ ting hotter and more dangerous each year. study has also shown that populations of fires98.htm (accessed 10 June 2021). From a human perspective, full-canopy fi res ants and beetles were rarely aff ected by low- (EPA) United States Environmental Protection cause extensive damage to forests, property, intensity, prescribed fi res, and that beetle Agency. 2021. Climate Change Indicators: Wildfires. https:/ /www .epa.gov / climate-indicators/ and often human life, but the relationship populations were thriving after a couple of climate-change-indicators-wildfires#:~:text= between fi res and insects is more complex. weeks (Ulyshen et al. 2020). Prescribed burns The%20extent%20of%20area%20burned,2015%20 Although wildfi res cause great harm to many can thus potentially create fi re corridors and (see%20Figure%20 (accessed 13 July 2021). insects, some insect species take advantage control pests, but they can also inadvertently Goodman, K., and K.W. McCravy. 2008. Pyrophilous of wildfi res, making this complex association destroy nesting sites or cause mortality in insects. In J.L. Capinera (ed.). Encyclopedia even more interesting. Certain insects are non-target forest dwellers. It’s complicated! of entomology. Springer, Dordrecht. https:// attracted to the fl ames. For example, some Beyond the immediate eff ects on forests doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_3272 jewel beetles (Buprestidae) and other pyroph- and forest inhabitants (including insects), (accessed 3 June 2021). ilous insects have special sensory receptors rfi es have far-reaching impacts on human Hart, S. 1998. Beetle mania: an attraction to fire. that allow them to detect and colonize newly society. I spent the past four years living in BioScience 48: 1–5. Lynch, A.M. 2012. Forest insects and wildland burnt forests (Goodman and McCravy 2008, the Pacifi c Northwest, so I was often sur- fire [PDF presentation]. https://cals.arizona. Hart 1998). Some wood borers and some rounded by forest fi res, including the deadly edu/classes/rnr355/lectures/Lec3_7_2012.pdf bark beetles have an advantage in the post- wildfi res of 2020. Just like any other con- (accessed 31 May 2021). wildfi re forest as they attack the fi re-damaged cerned member of the community, I hun- Ulyshen, M.D., A. Lucky, and T.T. Work. 2020. trees (Lynch 2012, Crawford and Peterson kered down with my family at home during Effects of prescribed fire and social insects 1998), whereas others are more likely to cause the intense smoke, helped friends in need, on saproxylic beetles in a subtropical forest. rfi es by feeding on and desiccating living and donated to post-wildfi re humanitarian Scientific Reports 10: 9630. trees, creating fuel. Even naturally occurring, eff orts. Despite the devastation, this also 64 AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST | FALL 2021

Journal

American Entomologist – Oxford University Press

Published: Sep 8, 2021

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