
Community identification
Aphid
Aphididae family
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera; Family Aphididae
- Size
- 1 to 10 millimeters in length
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.