What is the bloated tan thing found on the underside of this strawberry leaf?
Aphid “mummy,” the lifeless body of an aphid that has been parasitized by a parasitoid wasp.
Rob Last, ©2024, Clemson Extension
This is an aphid “mummy,” the lifeless body of an aphid that has been parasitized by a parasitoid wasp. Typically, the adult wasps are tiny, at only 0.08-0.12 inches long. The female wasp lays its eggs inside of the aphid. The larvae hatch, and they use the body of the aphid to feed and pupate. During the latter stages of larval development, the larvae will completely consume the host’s tissue. The larvae then create a small hole to attach the aphid to the leaf while it pupates. Once pupation is complete, the adult wasp will chew its way out of the aphid mummy, leaving a hollowed-out shell. There is no exit hole in this aphid yet, indicating that the wasp is still pupating.
For more information, see HGIC Natural Enemies: Parasitic Wasp.
