Which factor can contribute to the development of resistant pest populations?

The overuse of a single pesticide can lead to the development of resistant pest populations because pests that are exposed to the same chemical repeatedly are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their resistance traits to future generations. When a pesticide is used frequently without rotation or the incorporation of other pest management practices, it creates a selective pressure on the pest population. Those individuals with any natural resistance to the pesticide will be less affected by it, while the susceptible pests are eliminated. Over time, this process reduces the effectiveness of the pesticide and can lead to a situation where even high doses of the chemical no longer control the pest, resulting in a population of pests that are largely resistant. This scenario underlines the importance of using a diverse approach to pest management, including the use of multiple pesticides with different modes of action and practices like crop rotation, which can help mitigate the risk of resistance development.