How to Manage Pests

Parasitic wasps

Among the most effective natural enemies of aphids are various species of parasitic wasps that lay their eggs inside aphids. The wasp larva hatches and feeds internally on the aphid, killing it shortly before pupating. The skin of the dead aphid turns crusty and golden brown or black, a form called a mummy; the parasite larva pupates within, later cutting an exit hole to emerge as an adult wasp. The generation time of most parasites is quite short when the weather is warm, so once you begin to see mummies on your plants, the aphid population is likely to be reduced substantially within a week or two.

An aphid parasite

An aphid mummy