Predators will refrain from attacking harmless insects if they look like
insects that have stung them before.

from" attacking harmless insects"
harmless is adjective modify noun insects is ok .
attacking is noun or participle ....modify for ...?

thanks

Predators will refrain from attacking harmless insects if they look like insects that have stung them before.



"Attacking" is a present participle verb. It introduces the subordinate clause "attacking harmless insects", which is the complement of the preposition "from". "Harmless insects" is direct object of "attacking".



PaulM