Final answer:
Pests are generally most easily controlled by pesticides during the larval stage of their life cycle, as larvae are less mobile and more concentrated in feeding areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
When in their life cycle are pests generally most easily controlled by pesticides? The most effective stage for controlling pests with pesticides is during the larval stage of their life cycle. Pests are typically easiest to control during this stage because the larvae are less mobile and more concentrated in areas where they feed, making them more susceptible to pesticides.
Insects such as mosquitoes, ants, and butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis, which includes the stages of egg, larva, pupa, and adult, and control measures are most effective at the larval stage before pupation. Moreover, immature insects often have different forms, behaviors, and habitats from their adult counterparts, and larval forms are generally more targeted by pesticides. In the case of social insects like ants, bees, and wasps, management may also involve targeting specific roles or castes within the colony to disrupt their lifecycle.