Which trio of insects is commonly used as beneficials in IPM?

• A. Parasitic wasps, lady beetles, and scale insects
• B. Aphids, thrips, and spider mites
• C. Bees, butterflies, and dragonflies
• D. Lady beetles (ladybugs), lacewings, and parasitic wasps

Answer: (D)

In IPM, using natural enemies to suppress pest populations is a key strategy, so the best trio consists of insects that actively attack and reduce common crop pests. Lady beetles are classic predators of aphids and other soft-bodied pests, making them reliable helpers in garden and field crops. Lacewings, especially their larvae, are voracious feeders that target aphids, scale, mealybugs, thrips, and more, providing broad pest suppression. Parasitic wasps lay their eggs in or on pest insects, and the developing wasps consume the host from within, effectively reducing populations of caterpillars, aphids, whiteflies, and other pests.

The other options mix pests with beneficials or emphasize insects not typically deployed together as a standard IPM trio. For example, scale insects, aphids, thrips, and spider mites are itself pests, while bees, butterflies, and dragonflies, though beneficial in pollination and other roles, are not the typical focused group used together as IPM beneficials.