Insecticide resistance
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Insecticide resistance is a significant challenge in pest management, occurring when a portion of a pest population survives treatment with pesticides and passes on its resistance traits to subsequent generations. explains that initially, a pesticide may kill a large proportion of pests, but the survivors, which are naturally resistant, reproduce and soon dominate the population. This evolutionary shift can render the pesticide ineffective, necessitating the development of new pest control methods 1.
This resistance is not only a chemical challenge but also leads to broader ecological and economic issues. For example, pests that survive pesticide treatments can cause increased crop damage and thus impact food security.
To manage this, a strategy known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is recommended, where pesticides are used in a way that minimizes the selection for resistance by ensuring that not all individuals are targeted at every application. The objective is not to eradicate the pest, but to maintain it at levels that do not cause significant harm to crops 1. This approach, combining various control methods and judicious pesticide use, helps delay resistance development and is more sustainable in the long term.
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