Bug Identifier
Potato aphid (likely)
Community identification

Potato aphid (likely)

Macrosiphum euphorbiae

Order & Family
Hemiptera; Aphididae
Size
Adults are about 2–4 mm long; winged forms are slightly slimmer and longer.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Common on tomato, potato, and other garden plants, especially on young shoots and the undersides of leaves in temperate regions.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds by piercing plant tissue and sucking phloem sap. Heavy infestations cause curling, yellowing, stunted growth, and sticky honeydew buildup.

Behavior Patterns

Often forms dense colonies, reproducing rapidly by live birth during the growing season; winged individuals disperse when plants become crowded or stressed. Ants may tend colonies for honeydew.

Risks & Benefits

Can transmit plant viruses and promote sooty mold, reducing crop vigor. It is also food for lady beetles, lacewings, hoverfly larvae, and parasitoid wasps.