What influences the development of resistance in a pest population?

The development of resistance in a pest population is significantly influenced by the proportion of the population with exposure to pesticides. When a certain percentage of pests are exposed to a pesticide, those that survive often carry genetic traits that help them withstand the chemical. These surviving individuals can reproduce, passing on their resistant traits to the next generation. Over time, this can lead to an increased prevalence of the resistant phenotype within the population, making the pesticide less effective.

While cultural practices in agriculture can indirectly affect resistance by influencing pest populations and their management strategies, and the use of natural predators can help control pests without reliance on chemicals, these factors do not directly lead to the genetic adaptation seen in resistance development. The frequency of organic fertilizers also does not have a direct correlation with resistance, as they typically do not contribute to pest control in the same manner as pesticides do.