Climate warming causes deep disease outbreaks in tea plantations in Bangladesh and India

Source: news.mongabay.com A tea plantation in Sylhet. In 2024, Bangladesh produced 93 million kg (205 million pounds) of processed tea in 10 valleys, mainly in the eastern hilly areas of Sylhet and Chattogram. Photo source: mongabay.com Warmer climate, increasing pests Longer summers, late monsoons, and shorter winters – characteristics of a warming climate – are facilitating the proliferation of pests in tea plantations in Bangladesh and India. Entomologists have noted a significant increase in many pest species, including the red spider mite (Oligonychus coffeae) and thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) – which were only minor pests in tea gardens about 10 years ago. Additionally, rising temperatures have caused the tea geometrid moth (Biston suppressaria) – a serious pest – to re-emerge in many plantations. Tea plants (Camellia sinensis) are vulnerable to attacks by insects, mites, and nematodes. Warning from the research community Tea researchers in Bangladesh and India – the ...