Which strategy would best delay pest resistance?

Regularly monitoring and altering management strategies is the most effective way to delay pest resistance. This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of pest populations and their behavior. By monitoring, applicators can identify changes in pest resistance levels and adjust their strategies accordingly.

Altering management practices can include rotating different types of pesticides, integrating non-chemical control methods (such as cultural practices or biological controls), and varying application techniques. This diversity in management practices disrupts the selection pressure on pests, making it less likely for resistant individuals to thrive and reproduce.

The other strategies do not adequately address the urgency of evolving pest resistance. Exclusively using one type of pesticide creates a strong selection pressure that can lead to rapid resistance development. Reducing the frequency of pesticide applications may help to some extent, but without monitoring and diversity in strategies, it could still lead to resistance. Using pesticides with high toxicity might initially reduce pest populations, but it does not contribute to long-term management or delay resistance, and it could have negative impacts on beneficial organisms and the ecosystem.