Massive yet grossly underestimated global costs of invasive insects

TLDR

Invasive insects pose major development challenges by spreading disease, damaging crops and infrastructure, yet cost estimates remain sporadic, incomplete, and of questionable quality. The authors compiled a comprehensive database of economic costs of invasive insects. The study assembled this database by systematically collecting and aggregating reported goods and service estimates. The compiled data reveal that invasive insects cost at least US$70.0 billion per year worldwide, with health costs exceeding US$6.9 billion, and suggest that total costs will rise as more estimates are added, yet many high‑cost impacts are already captured; the lack of dedicated studies implies gross underestimation, and climate change, population growth, and trade will expand their spread, though enhanced surveillance, containment, and awareness could yield substantial savings.

Abstract

Insects have presented 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.