Aphid Mummies

Natural Habitat

Agricultural fields, gardens, and greenhouses where aphid colonies are present.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae develop by consuming the internal organs of a live aphid; adults feed on nectar and honeydew.

Behavior Patterns

A female wasp lays an egg inside a living aphid. The larva eats the host from the inside, causing the aphid to swell and turn beige/tan (the mummy). The larva then pupates inside this shell before emerging as an adult through a circular exit hole.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial to the ecosystem and gardeners as they provide natural biological pest control, significantly reducing aphid populations without the need for chemical pesticides.

Identified on: 3/31/2026