What is the significance of a pest's life cycle length in relation to resistance?

The length of a pest's life cycle plays a significant role in the development of resistance to pesticides. A longer life cycle means that there are extended periods for pests to be exposed to the same pesticide over multiple generations. This repeated exposure can lead to survival of individuals with resistant traits, thereby allowing those traits to be passed on to subsequent generations. Over time, as resistant individuals reproduce, the population as a whole may become increasingly resistant to the pesticide due to the selection pressure exerted by the pesticide application.

In contrast, shorter life cycles might limit the number of generations exposed to a pesticide, potentially reducing the likelihood of resistance development. However, this does not mean that short life cycles inherently prevent resistance, as selection can still occur if the pesticide is used repeatedly without rotation or changes in application strategy. Understanding the implications of life cycle length can help in developing effective pest management strategies that mitigate resistance issues.