What is a key characteristic of occasional pests?

A key characteristic of occasional pests is that they become serious when key pests are managed. This means that their population or impact tends to increase when the primary pests, which are usually more consistently problematic, are kept in check or controlled. In such cases, occasional pests may exploit the resources or opportunities created by the control measures taken against the key pests.

Understanding this dynamic is important in pest management because it highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that considers all pest species, not just the primary targets. It emphasizes that managing one type of pest can inadvertently lead to an increase in another type, which might not have been a significant issue initially. As such, even though these occasional pests might be less frequent or cause less damage under normal circumstances, their potential to escalate into a problem under specific conditions is a crucial aspect of effective pest control strategies.