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Project Noah Nature School
aphid mummy - parasitized by an aphidiine braconid
Petunia in the backyard
Spotted on Apr 17, 2013
Submitted on Apr 18, 2013
4 Comments
I wasn't counting the flower... better make it a triple spotting :)
I got a double! Thank you for the great information, John!
Argy, I agree but only because the flower is so much bigger ;)
Wow there we go... boring and fat equals double spotting. Love it thanks John. It looks good on the petunia.
Yes - it is an aphid. When they look like that it is probably because there is a parasitic wasp developing away within the aphid - producing this "mummified appearance". If you google "aphid mummy" you will get similar images - often with a hole chewed in the aphid where the wasp has emerged. If you toss it in a jar, don't be surprised if a wasp pops out soon.