Which type of weather condition can exacerbate pest outbreaks?

Warm and humid weather is known to exacerbate pest outbreaks due to several factors related to pest biology and environmental conditions. Many pests thrive in warm temperatures as it facilitates their growth, reproduction, and activity levels. When humidity is also high, it creates an optimal environment for many pests to flourish.

For insects like aphids, thrips, and certain moths, warm and humid conditions can lead to faster life cycles, resulting in quicker population increases. Additionally, high humidity can provide the necessary moisture that some pests need for survival and reproduction, while also reducing the effectiveness of certain pest control measures.

This combination of warmth and humidity can also create ideal conditions for the spread of plant pathogens that pests may carry, further compounding the issue. Therefore, pest populations can grow rapidly when these weather conditions persist, leading to more severe outbreaks.