Which statement about metamorphosis and pest control is true?

Which statement about metamorphosis and pest control is true?

• A. All pests have complete metamorphosis
• B. Metamorphosis type helps identify life stage causing damage
• C. Metamorphosis type does not affect control timing
• D. Only caterpillars undergo metamorphosis

Answer: (B)

Understanding how metamorphosis type guides pest control helps you target the right life stage at the right time. Insects that undergo complete metamorphosis pass through egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The feeding and most damage usually happen during the larval stage (think caterpillars or maggots), while the adult often feeds less or differently. Because of that, effective control focuses on the larval stage when it’s active and vulnerable, using strategies that specifically disrupt or kill larvae. Insects with incomplete metamorphosis go egg, nymph, and adult. The nymphs resemble small adults and both nymphs and adults can feed, so damage can occur across multiple stages. This means control efforts must consider which stages are feeding at a given time and target those stages accordingly. So the statement is true: knowing the metamorphosis type helps identify which life stage is causing damage and guides when and how to apply control measures. It’s not accurate to say all pests have complete metamorphosis, nor that metamorphosis type doesn’t affect timing, and it’s not correct to claim only caterpillars undergo metamorphosis.

Understanding how metamorphosis type guides pest control helps you target the right life stage at the right time. Insects that undergo complete metamorphosis pass through egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The feeding and most damage usually happen during the larval stage (think caterpillars or maggots), while the adult often feeds less or differently. Because of that, effective control focuses on the larval stage when it’s active and vulnerable, using strategies that specifically disrupt or kill larvae.

Insects with incomplete metamorphosis go egg, nymph, and adult. The nymphs resemble small adults and both nymphs and adults can feed, so damage can occur across multiple stages. This means control efforts must consider which stages are feeding at a given time and target those stages accordingly.

So the statement is true: knowing the metamorphosis type helps identify which life stage is causing damage and guides when and how to apply control measures. It’s not accurate to say all pests have complete metamorphosis, nor that metamorphosis type doesn’t affect timing, and it’s not correct to claim only caterpillars undergo metamorphosis.