Bug Identifier
Aphid
Community identification

Aphid

Aphididae family

Order & Family
Order Hemiptera; Family Aphididae
Size
1 to 10 millimeters in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found on a wide variety of plants including garden vegetables, ornamental flowers, and agricultural crops.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant phloem (sap).

Behavior Patterns

Often found in large colonies; they reproduce rapidly, often asexually (parthenogenesis). They excrete a sticky substance called honeydew which can attract ants.

Risks & Benefits

Significant agricultural pests that can cause leaf curling, stunted growth, and transmit plant viruses; benefits include being a vital food source for beneficial insects like ladybugs.