How does pesticide resistance typically arise in a pest population?

Pesticide resistance typically arises through the process of natural selection of individuals within a pest population that possess genetic traits enabling them to survive exposure to a pesticide. Over time, when a pesticide is applied, it kills susceptible pests, but those with mutations or inherited traits that confer resistance are more likely to survive. These resistant individuals then breed, passing on their resistance traits to the next generation. As a result, the proportion of resistant pests increases in the population, leading to the overall ineffectiveness of the pesticide.

While random mutations and agricultural practices can contribute to the emergence of resistance, they are part of a broader context; it is the selective pressure from pesticide applications that facilitates the increase of resistant traits. Habitat destruction does not directly influence resistance mechanisms; rather, it affects overall pest populations and their ecosystems. Thus, focusing on natural selection provides a clear understanding of the mechanism behind the development of pesticide resistance.