The ability of pests to resist poisoning is called what?

Pesticide resistance refers to the ability of pests to survive exposure to a particular pesticide that once effectively controlled them. This phenomenon occurs through genetic changes that enable some individuals within a pest population to withstand doses of the pesticide that would normally be lethal. Over time, as these resistant individuals reproduce, the population as a whole may become increasingly difficult to manage with the same chemical control methods.

Understanding pesticide resistance is crucial for effective pest management. It highlights the importance of rotating different classes of pesticides and integrating non-chemical control methods to mitigate the development of resistance. In contrast, pesticide tolerance describes a general ability to handle chemicals without being adversely affected, which is not specific to the evolution of resistance in pest populations. Pesticide efficacy relates to how effective a pesticide is at controlling a pest population, while pesticide failure would indicate that a pesticide has not achieved its intended effect, which can result from various factors, including resistance.