What is pesticide resistance?

• A. The ability of the target pest to resist any poisoning effects of the pesticide
• B. A pest's preference for treated areas
• C. The taste of treated produce
• D. The color of pesticide packaging

Answer: (A)

Pesticide resistance is when a pest population evolves the ability to survive exposure to a pesticide that would normally kill them. Because there’s natural variation in how individuals respond, some pests happen to have traits that detoxify the chemical or lessen its effect. When a pesticide is used, susceptible individuals die while resistant ones survive and reproduce, gradually shifting the population toward resistance. Over time, this can make the pesticide less effective, so management strategies must rotate modes of action, use labeled rates and timing, integrate non-chemical controls, and monitor for changing control effectiveness. The other options describe preferences for treated areas, taste changes, or packaging color—none of these relate to the pest’s ability to withstand the pesticide.