Explain why the use of pesticides can actually increase the number of pest problems?

Question

Explain why the use of pesticides can actually increase the number of pest problems?

Answer 1

Hi Wizard21,

The use of pesticides might increase the number of pest problems because of genetic drift.  This is where you have a few targeted insects that survive a pesticide application.  They then mate and produce off-spring with a higher resistiveness to the pesticide.  After only a few such cycles, you could have a pest insect that will not be at all affected by the applied pesticide and will be able to attack your crop in mass without any decrease in their numbers.

I hope that this is of some help to you.

Hiking Tony