What is the primary purpose of bait in pest management?

The primary purpose of bait in pest management is to attract pests to a pesticide or trap. Baits are formulated to have certain characteristics that appeal to specific pests, whether through scent, taste, or the presence of food that the pests typically consume. By enticing the pests, the bait ensures that they come into contact with the active ingredients that can reduce or eliminate the pest population.

In contrast, some of the other options may describe pest management techniques but do not capture the main function of bait. For instance, while providing nutrition to pests might allow them to thrive, it does not align with the goal of pest management, which is to control or eliminate pests. Similarly, methods that kill pests instantly upon contact focus on direct elimination rather than the attraction strategy that bait employs. Lastly, repelling pests involves strategies to keep them away, which is a different approach than using bait that draws them in to manage their population effectively.