What is the anatomical difference between beneficial and pest that would make them immune to a mixture of chemicals that kills pests? Or: how does the soap know the difference between pest and beneficial?

Dan

exactly, dan

some pesticides ("organic" or not), such as Bt, will only kill certain kinds of insects, but some are universally deadly -

so my question is: are insecticidal soaps deadly to all "bugs"?

Soaps are non-target specific.

But they won't kill, say, armored scale. But they will kill many beneficials if sprayed directly.

Dan