What is a potential risk of relying solely on neonicotinoids for pest control?

The reliance on neonicotinoids for pest control poses a potential risk of leading to pest resistance. Neonicotinoids are systemic insecticides that affect the nervous system of insects, making them highly effective against many pests. However, continuous use of a single class of insecticides can result in pests developing resistance. This phenomenon occurs when individuals in a pest population survive exposure to the insecticide and pass on their resistant traits to the next generation.

Over time, this can lead to a situation where the neonicotinoid becomes less effective, requiring higher doses or the development of new pest control methods, which can be economically and environmentally challenging. Consequently, pest resistance undermines the long-term sustainability of pest management strategies and can complicate pest control efforts.

The other choices, while associated with pest management practices, do not encapsulate the primary risk associated with exclusive reliance on neonicotinoids. For example, eliminating beneficial insects can occur but is not a direct outcome of sole reliance on neonicotinoids, and improving soil quality or reducing time spent in pest identification do not address the critical issue of resistance development.