What does "pesticide resistance" refer to?

Pesticide resistance refers specifically to the ability of a pest population to withstand the effects of pesticides that were previously effective against them. When certain pests develop resistance, it indicates that some individuals within the population have genetic traits that allow them to survive pesticide applications, either by detoxifying the chemical, altering their behavior, or developing physical barriers that prevent the pesticide from affecting them. As a result, pest populations can increase or remain stable despite regular pesticide use, leading to challenges in pest management and necessitating the development of alternative strategies.

The other options do not accurately define pesticide resistance. For instance, the degradation rate of pesticides relates to their environmental impact and not how pests react to them. Similarly, the notion that pesticides can become more effective over time does not capture the resistant traits of pests that diminish the efficacy of those pesticides. Lastly, while weather can influence pesticide application success, it does not pertain to the genetic or biological factors that define pesticide resistance.