Aphid Mummy

Found on the undersides of leaves or stems where aphid colonies are present, typically in gardens, farms, and greenhouses.

As larvae, they are endoparasitoids that consume the internal organs of a host aphid; adults may feed on nectar or honeydew.

A female wasp lays an egg inside a live aphid. The larva consumes the aphid from within, causing the aphid's exoskeleton to harden into a tan or gold 'mummy' shell. The adult wasp eventually cuts a circular exit hole to emerge.

Highly beneficial for biological pest control; they significantly reduce aphid populations in agricultural and home garden settings without harming humans.