Moisture also plays a critical role in insect development, especially in the desert. Many insect pests encountered in our crops do not require free moisture to survive. They obtain water through their food supply. For instance, Liriomyza leafminers spend their entire egg and larval stages inside melon or lettuce leaves, extracting water and nutrients from plant tissue. However, relative humidity or lack thereof can influence insect growth and behavior by affecting the insect’s ability to regulate water loss. Low humidity is often detrimental to insect development, but most insects found in desert crops have adapted physiological and behavioral mechanisms to prevent dehydration.