Why this parasitic wasp is so powerful

• Widely employed to control potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) and foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani).
• Highly efficient – Aphelinus abdominalis controls aphid adults and nymphs
• Long term activity – longer lifespan compared to other parasitic wasps
• Stays put – wasp stays locally active, doesn’t swarm
• Withstands higher summer temperatures - compared to other wasp species
• Also host-feeds – adult wasps also feed on small aphid species contributing to control.

How does Aphelinus-System achieve such good control?

• Female wasp punctures host and lays egg inside the aphid host
• Parasitised aphids clearly visible -as black mummies
• Each parasitic wasp can control 5-10 aphids/day (up to 250 in total)