Which cultural practices can help reduce insect pest populations?

The correct choice highlights the importance of cultural practices such as crop rotation and proper sanitation in managing insect pest populations. Crop rotation involves changing the types of crops grown in a particular area over time. This practice disrupts the life cycles of pests that are adapted to specific crops, reducing their populations and preventing infestations. Additionally, proper sanitation involves maintaining cleanliness in agricultural settings, which can help eliminate potential breeding sites and food sources for pests, thereby further limiting their populations.

In contrast, relying solely on pesticides does not encourage long-term pest management and may lead to pesticide resistance over time. Keeping lights on at night can attract certain pests, which is counterproductive for pest management. Allowing pest populations to grow can lead to more significant economic losses and potential damage to crops, undermining the sustainability of agricultural practices. Thus, employing cultural practices such as crop rotation and sanitation proves to be a more effective and sustainable approach to managing insect pests in the ecosystem.