What outcome can occur from pest populations developing resistance to pesticides?

When pest populations develop resistance to pesticides, it leads to increased difficulty in controlling those populations. Resistance occurs when pests survive a pesticide treatment and reproduce, passing genetically inherited traits that allow their offspring to tolerate or evade the effects of the chemical. As a result, the same pesticide becomes less effective over time, necessitating the use of higher doses or different chemicals to achieve control. This can lead to a cycle where pest management becomes increasingly challenging, requiring more robust interventions and potentially leading to greater economic and environmental impacts.

Lower costs for pest management and enhanced effectiveness of the chemicals are unlikely outcomes, as resistance usually drives up costs and reduces the efficacy of the treatments. Introducing more beneficial insects might not directly address the issue of resistance in pest populations and could complicate pest management strategies further.