Which of the following is a potential risk from some insect and mite species?

• A. Transmission of diseases to plants, animals, and humans.
• B. Guaranteed crop yield increase.
• C. Immunity to pesticides.
• D. They do not interact with hosts.

Answer: (A)

Some insect and mite species can act as vectors, carrying diseases from one host to another. When these pests feed on plants, they can acquire plant pathogens and later inoculate healthy plants, spreading diseases through turf and ornamental landscapes. They can also affect animals and humans when bites or feeding provide a route for pathogens, or when non-blood-feeding pests spread fungal or bacterial diseases to hosts they contact. This potential to move diseases between diverse hosts is the key risk these pests pose, making disease transmission the correct concept to recognize.

Other options don’t describe a real risk in the same way: pests do not guarantee a crop yield increase; many pests actually reduce yields. Some pests can develop resistance to pesticides, but that isn’t immunity in the literal sense. And these pests do interact with hosts, so the statement that they do not interact is incorrect.