Which pest type is described as pests that become a problem due to the control of another pest?

• A. Secondary pests
• B. Key pests
• C. Occasional pests
• D. Pest-like pests

Answer: (A)

Secondary pests are those that become problematic after you control another pest. The idea is that the pest problem shifts because the management actions alter the ecological balance—often by reducing natural enemies or changing the environment—so a previously less troublesome pest pops up as a new threat. For example, using broad-spectrum insecticides to kill a primary pest can also kill beneficial predators, allowing mites or whiteflies to surge. The other terms don’t fit this situation: key pests are the ones that consistently cause major economic damage, occasional pests appear only sporadically, and pest-like pests isn’t a standard category.