Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a technique used in research to control pest populations. The red clover involved in this research project had an aphid infestation that was causing harm to the plants involved. Aphids secrete honeydew, a sugary liquid waste, when they feed on the plant and this was making the crossing project difficult to carry out. Beneficial insects are used in IPM to limit the use of pesticides. Aphidius colemani, a parasitic wasp, was released in an attempt to control the aphid population with no success. An order of 20 000 ladybugs was subsequently released. Ladybugs feed on aphids and were able to reduce the population to a manageable level. The ladybugs in this picture are mating, which led to a second generation of ladybug pest control!
