Tomato Aphid

Found on the underside of leaves and along the stems of a variety of garden plants, particularly tomatoes and potatoes.

Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap (phloem), often targetting tender new growth.

They reproduce rapidly through parthenogenesis (cloning) in warm conditions. They excrete a sticky substance called honeydew and can be found in large clusters. Some generations develop wings to migrate to new host plants.

Risk: They are a significant agricultural pest that can stunt plant growth, cause leaf curling, and transmit plant viruses. Benefit: They serve as a primary food source for beneficial predatory insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps.