Complete metamorphosis means the insect goes through four life stages—egg, larva, pupa, and adult—with the larval form usually looking very different from the adult. Beetles, in the order Coleoptera, all undergo this four-stage development. The Western Corn Rootworm is a beetle, so it follows that complete metamorphosis. The water strider isn’t a beetle; it’s a true bug (Hemiptera) and has incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult). The white-lined sphinx moth is a Lepidoptera and also undergoes complete metamorphosis, and the yellowjacket is a Hymenoptera, which also has complete metamorphosis—neither is a beetle, though.

Understanding aphid control involves recognizing predators that actively feed on soft-bodied pests and have identifying features that match how they look in the field. The insect best known for reducing aphid populations and for its delicate lace-like wings is the lacewing. Its larvae, often called aphid lions, eagerly prey on aphids and other small pests, delivering rapid damage to pest colonies. The adults also contribute by consuming tiny insects and sometimes nectar, which helps sustain them between meals. The wings are a key clue: they are long and translucent with an intricate network of veins that gives them a lace-like appearance. This combination of voracious aphid predation and the distinctive lace wings makes lacewings the right match for aphid control. While lady beetles are also beneficial aphid predators, their wings are covered by hard, solid wing cases rather than the lacy pattern. Praying mantises prey on larger insects and are not specifically used for aphid control, and ground beetles are typically ground-dwellers with different wing characteristics, not the delicate lace-like wings described.

Simple metamorphosis means an insect goes from egg to a nymph that looks like a smaller adult, with no pupal stage. Insects in the Hemiptera order, the true bugs, typically show this kind of development. The water strider fits because it is a Hemipteran and its life cycle is egg → nymph → adult, with nymphs resembling smaller adults and no pupal form required. In contrast, the white-lined sphinx moth, the western corn rootworm, and the yellowjacket all undergo complete metamorphosis, which includes a pupal stage (caterpillar → chrysalis/pupa → adult).

Cicadas are large Hemipteran insects that produce loud songs by males using tymbal organs on the abdomen. They have piercing-sucking mouthparts for feeding on plant sap, clear wings held flat over the body, and a stout body with prominent eyes. Caddisflies, in contrast, belong to Trichoptera and have hairy wings plus aquatic larvae that often build cases. Camel crickets are Orthoptera with long hind legs built for jumping and typically lack the robust wings of cicadas. Colorado potato beetles are beetles (Coleoptera) with hard wing covers and a yellow-orange body with black stripes. The insect described here as the cicada matches the cicada’s distinctive features, distinguishing it from the other insects listed.