A refuge area is a countermeasure against pesticide resistance in agriculture.[1][2][3][4][5] In this technique two adjacent pieces of land are demarcated, and one is applied with a pesticide and one is not - the refuge.[1][2][3][4][5] Given that resistance develops concurrent with application,[1][2][3][4][5] a more complex way of dealing with the problem is needed than simply using or not using a particular pesticide. A refuge encourages the overall population to maintain a lower prevalence of resistance by segmenting them into two populations: The population receiving the pesticide and the pesticide-free population.[1][2][3][4][5] Over time the population that suffers pesticide application will evolve resistance - and more widespread resistance.[1][2][3][4][5] Meanwhile, the other will continue to be pesticide-naive.[1][2][3][4][5]However the trick here is that a larger proportion of the main population will die off - allowing the pesticide-naive genetics to more successfully reproduce within the overall area, and thus to dominate the overall population.[1][2][3][4][5]
