Which insect belongs to the order Hymenoptera and has complete metamorphosis with chewing mouthparts?

• A. European Hornet
• B. Corn Earworm
• C. Dragonfly
• D. Earwig

Answer: (A)

Hymenoptera are wasps, bees, and ants, and they all undergo complete metamorphosis, meaning they develop through egg, larva, pupa, and adult, with adults that typically have chewing mouthparts. The European hornet is a large hornet in this order and uses strong mandibles for chewing, fitting both the taxonomic group and the chewing-mouthpart criterion, plus its life cycle is holometabolous.

The other insects don’t fit all parts: dragonflies are in a different order and experience incomplete metamorphosis, earwigs are in yet another order with incomplete metamorphosis, and the corn earworm is a Lepidopteran whose adults have siphoning mouthparts rather than chewing.