What is resistance in pest control?

Resistance is defined as a change in the sensitivity of a pest population to a pesticide, resulting in the failure of a correct application of the pesticide to control the pest. Resistance can develop when the same pesticide or similar ones with the same mode of action are used over and over again.

What is chemical control of pest?

Chemical control is based on substances that are toxic (poisonous) to the pests involved. When chemical pesticides are applied to protect plants from pests, diseases or overgrowth by weeds, we speak of plant protection products. Then there are herbicides which are used against weeds.

How can pesticide resistance be prevented?

Managing Pesticide Resistance

1. Minimize Pesticide Use. Minimizing pesticide use is fundamental to pesticide resistance management.
2. Avoid Tank Mixes. Avoid combinations (mixes) of two insecticides or miticides in a single application.
3. Avoid Persistent Chemicals.
4. Use Long-term Rotations.

What is an example of pesticide resistance?

A classic example is the house fly. Populations of this insect that became resistant to DDT in the 1950s, also exhibited resistance, with no previous exposure, to pyrethroid insecticides used decades later. DDT and pyrethroids have the same MOA. This phenomenon is known as cross-resistance.

What causes insecticide resistance?

Repeated use of the same class of pesticides to control a pest can cause undesirable changes in the gene pool of a pest leading to another form of artificial selection, pesticide resistance. Through this process of selection, the population gradually develops resistance to the pesticide.

What is the strongest pesticide you can buy?

In general, deltamethrin is considered one of the most powerful synthetic pyrethroid insecticides on the market. Plus, it seems to be slightly less toxic than bifenthrin as its uses are less restricted indoors.

Why is insecticide resistance a problem?

Insecticide resistance is generally considered to undermine control of vector-transmitted diseases because it increases the number of vectors that survive the insecticide treatment. Disease control failure, however, need not follow from vector control failure.

How is insecticide resistance An example of natural selection?

Pesticide resistance is an example of natural selection because the insects who survive the initial use due to a gene that enable them to resist the attack pass on the gene for pesticide resistance to their offspring. In each generation, the percentage of pesticide resistant insects increases.

What is the goal of pest resistance management?

The goal of successful resistance management is to reduce populations of pests, whether they are resistant or susceptible to pesticides. The general recommendation when using pesticides is to alternate or tank-mix pesticides of different chemistry and modes of action.

Why is it important to understand pesticide resistance?

Pesticide resistance is an important concept to understand when attempting to manage a pest. Without taking actions to delay or minimize pest resistance now, the pesticide management tactics we currently use may someday no longer work. In this presentation we will explore what pesticide resistance is and how it occurs.

Which is more effective pest control chemical or non-chemical?

Sometimes a non-chemical method of control is as effective and convenient as a chemical alternative. For many pests, total elimination is almost impossible, but it is possible to control them. Knowing your options is the key to pest control. Methods available to you include pest prevention, non-chemical pest controls, and chemical pesticides.

Why are pesticides only used as a last resort?

With “integrated pest management,” scientists encourage the spread of natural enemies of pests, or they lure the pests with a meal that’s even more tasty than the vulnerable crop. Pesticides are only used as a last resort if every other method fails.