North Carolina Pesticide Application Practice Test

Which of the following is a method to delay pesticide resistance?

1. Always use the same pesticide type

2. Monitor pest populations and treat only when necessary

3. Apply pesticides as often as possible

4. Ignore record-keeping for treatments applied

The correct answer is: Monitor pest populations and treat only when necessary

Using monitoring of pest populations and treating only when necessary is a critical method for delaying pesticide resistance. This approach helps ensure that pesticides are applied only when they are truly needed, which reduces the overall exposure of pests to the chemicals. Regular monitoring allows applicators to identify pest outbreaks at the right moment, applying treatments strategically rather than indiscriminately. By treating pests only when there is a significant risk of damage or pest numbers reach a threshold, the selection pressure on the pest populations is minimized. This is important because pesticide resistance develops when pests are repeatedly exposed to the same chemical, allowing resistant individuals to survive and reproduce. Therefore, thoughtful and judicious application can prolong the effectiveness of existing pesticides and help maintain control over pest populations. Other strategies, such as rotating different types of pesticides or employing integrated pest management practices, can also contribute to managing resistance, but the focus here is on the importance of monitoring, which promotes responsible and effective pesticide use.