How is a pest defined?

A pest is defined as any harmful, noxious, or troublesome organism. This encompasses a broad range of organisms, including insects, weeds, fungi, and even larger animals that can negatively impact crops, human health, or the environment. The definition emphasizes the harmful nature of pests, which disrupt agricultural practices, cause economic losses, and may even threaten human health or ecosystems.

In agriculture, pests are often seen as those organisms that compete with crops for resources, transmit diseases, or cause direct damage. While the other choices touch on aspects of pests, they do not capture the comprehensive definition. For instance, considering only insects that harm crops is too narrow, as pests can include various other organisms. Similarly, defining a pest solely as something that can be controlled overlooks the critical criterion of its harmful or troublesome nature. Therefore, understanding the full scope of what defines a pest is essential for effective pest management and control strategies in agriculture.