What to Do If You Find Aphid Mummies on Your Plants
At our greenhouse, we use a careful approach to pest control called Integrated Pest Management (IPM), because we care about plant health, human safety, and the environment. This means we don’t just blanket-spray pesticides on every plant.
Sometimes, you might notice small, dried aphids—called aphid mummies—on your plants. Don’t worry! These are actually a sign that our beneficial wasps are at work. Here’s what’s happening:
- We release parasitic wasps in our greenhouse.
- The wasps lay their eggs inside aphids, which eventually kills the aphid.
- What you see as a “mummy” is the dead aphid with a developing wasp larva inside.
- These wasps are harmless to people and pets—they don’t sting.
What to do:
- If possible, leave the mummies on the plant. The wasps will mature and help control future aphid populations.
- If you prefer to remove them, you can gently wash them off with water.
- Avoid spraying pesticides, as this will kill the beneficial wasps and reduce the natural pest control in your plants.
Finding aphid mummies is not a sign of infestation or unhealthy plants. In fact, it shows that natural pest control is actively protecting your plant.