Banker Plants and Aphid Mummies

Normally growing aphids is a bad thing, but in respect to our beneficial insect program, it’s a good thing.  At the Environmental Horticulture Program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology we grow and propagate thousands of plants in our greenhouses.  Each year the students put on a huge plant sale that generates money that helps fund the program.  This year we had a serious threat … Continue reading Banker Plants and Aphid Mummies

Aphidius matricariae–A Beneficial Bug

This is an amazing solution to a plant problem.  Big fat hungry aphids are gobbling away on the plants, sucking and deforming the leaves and getting out of control.  This little parasitic wasp is released and is attracted to the aphid colonies immediately.  It begins to lay its eggs inside of aphids and will attack 200-300 aphids in the next week.  Yes, parasitism is slightly … Continue reading Aphidius matricariae–A Beneficial Bug