Which of the following natural enemy insects would be harmed by an insecticide application?

The lacewing is a natural enemy insect that plays a significant role in biological pest control by preying on various pest species, such as aphids and other harmful insects. Insecticides, while designed to target specific pests, can often be broad-spectrum and may not discriminate between beneficial insects and the pests they are intended to control.

Lacewings have vulnerable life stages, particularly as larvae, which are susceptible to many common insecticides. When an insecticide is applied, it can kill or harm lacewing larvae, thereby reducing their population and, consequently, their effectiveness in controlling pest populations. This impact on lacewings highlights the importance of employing integrated pest management strategies that consider the safety of beneficial insects.

In contrast, cicadas, sawflies, and woodwasps, while being insects as well, are not typically significant natural enemies of pests in the same way lacewings are. Cicadas primarily feed on plant sap and may not interact directly with pest populations. Sawflies and woodwasps are often associated with trees and shrubs but do not provide the same ecological role in controlling pest insects as lacewings do. Thus, they may not face the same detrimental effects from insecticide applications, making lacewings the most directly impacted