Black Bean Aphid (nymph stage)
Scientific Name: Aphis fabae
Order & Family: Hemiptera: Aphididae
Size: 1.5 - 3.1 mm

Natural Habitat
Agricultural fields, gardens, and various host plants including beans, beets, and celery
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; feeds on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts
Behavior Patterns
Gregarious behavior forming large colonies on stems and undersides of leaves; complex life cycle involving host alternation between woody and herbaceous plants
Risks & Benefits
Major agricultural pest that causes leaf curling, stunting, and can transmit plant viruses; benefits the ecosystem as a primary food source for many predatory insects like ladybugs
Identified on: 6/8/2026