What psychological condition is characterized by a significant fear of pests leading to avoidance behavior?

The condition that describes a significant fear of pests, leading to avoidance behavior, is entomophobia. This specific phobia involves an extreme and irrational fear of insects, which may cause individuals to go to great lengths to avoid situations where they might encounter these creatures. People suffering from entomophobia may experience intense anxiety, panic attacks, or distress at the mere thought of bugs, which can severely impact their daily lives and routines.

In contrast to entomophobia, delusory parasitosis refers to a fixed belief that one is infested with parasites despite no medical evidence, leading to behaviors that are misdirected towards perceived infestations rather than genuine fears. Illusory parasitosis, on the other hand, can involve misconceptions about being infested, although it doesn't carry the same significant avoidance behavior associated with entomophobia. Cryptic parasitism is a term that generally does not apply to a psychological condition related to fear or avoidance of pests. It instead relates more to certain biological adaptations or strategies used by parasites.

Thus, entomophobia is specifically tied to the irrational fear and avoidance of insects, making it the correct choice for this question.