While pesticides are great for managing a lot of weeds and insects, there is a downside. It’s all about pesticide resistance. Some insect species have adapted to no longer
allow pesticides to affect them the way they once did.
This isn’t unusual. It’s all about evolution. Look at how bacteria have developed a resistance to antibiotics and how some plants have developed a resistance to drought conditions simply because they’ve had to. Now you just need to know how to deal with this problem.
What Causes Pesticide Resistance
Understanding more about pesticide resistance is the best place to start to prevent it from happening. In a lot of cases, it happens because you use the same insecticide all the time. It’s used in the same way with a set timing and has the same active ingredients. The insects get used to this, and as they lay more eggs, the generations start to adapt to become more resilient to this.
Over time, the insects can become resistant to more types of insecticides that are related chemically. It’s important to change up everything on a regular basis.
The Methods of Resistance to Pesticides
Insects become resistant in five main ways. The first is that they can also change the way their bodies take in the pesticide, which is on a genetic level. They can also change the target enzyme or site of action so that the pesticide doesn’t work.
The third way is through the way they metabolise the insecticide, which again is more on a genetic level. They can even develop the ability to isolate the pesticide in specific cells so that it never reaches an active site in the body.
The fifth way is through their own cognitive behavior. They will realize where the insecticide is being used and will move away from it. This may not even be from the plant in full, but could be just to another part of the plant due to where you spray.
Once the adults have the resistance, all their young will. You have generations that won’t be affected and your pest problem can get out of control.
How to Avoid Resistance Becoming a Problem
There are things you can do to prevent this issue. You’ll want to develop a management plan that uses multiple forms of insects and noxious weed control. Don’t just rely on chemicals. Have a cultural, mechanical, and biological element to your plan. You can then limit the chemical control to only when it’s needed, such as with insects that are resistant to the other forms.
You’ll also want to rotate the pesticides you use. Switch up the methods of application, and change the active ingredients that you use. This makes it much harder for insects to build up a resistance to them or know where you’re going to spray.
