Bug Identifier
Black aphid (likely)
Community identification

Black aphid (likely)

Aphididae sp.

Order & Family
Hemiptera; Aphididae
Size
Usually 1–3 mm long; the pictured insects appear near the small end of this range.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Plant stems, leaves, buds, and undersides of foliage, especially on tender new growth. They may also occur indoors on houseplants.

Diet & Feeding

They pierce plant tissue and suck phloem sap. Feeding can cause curling, yellowing, wilting, sticky honeydew, and sooty mold.

Behavior Patterns

Often occur in dense colonies and reproduce rapidly, frequently by live birth; winged forms develop when plants are crowded or stressed. Ants may tend them for honeydew, while lady beetles, lacewings, and parasitoid wasps prey on them.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to people and pets, though heavy infestations can weaken plants and some species transmit plant viruses. They provide food for beneficial predators and contribute honeydew to insect communities.