Final answer:
The statement that pesticides sometimes kill non-target bugs is true. While modern pesticides may be designed with fewer non-target impacts, history shows that pesticides, including DDT, have caused collateral damage to beneficial non-target organisms. Biological control methods have also sometimes led to non-target species being affected.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the main problems with pesticides is that they often cause collateral impact by killing non-target bugs; therefore, the statement is true. Pesticides can be damaging not only to the intended pests but also to beneficial species including predators and parasites that naturally control pest populations. For example, the decline of raptor populations due to DDT is a historical instance where a pesticide had harmful effects on non-target organisms. However, some modern herbicides and pesticides are designed to have fewer non-target impacts when used correctly, though the cost can be considerable.
Ecologically, the majority of pest control in ecosystems is performed by natural enemies like predators and parasites. Introducing multiple enemies of pests, such as pea aphids, can significantly increase crop yields by enhancing the effectiveness of pest control. Nevertheless, it is also true that biological control methods, which involve introducing natural enemies to control pests, have led to issues when control agents have attacked non-target species, sometimes with serious consequences such as extinctions.