This article is about the insect. For other uses, see Aphid (disambiguation).
Aphids
Temporal range: Permian–present
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Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hemiptera
Suborder:
Sternorrhyncha
Infraorder:
Aphidomorpha
Superfamily:
Aphidoidea Geoffroy, 1762
Families
Aphididae Latreille, 1802
†Bajsaphididae Homan, Zyla & Wegierek, 2015
†Canadaphididae Richards, 1966
†Cretamyzidae Heie, 1992
†Drepanochaitophoridae Zhang & Hong, 1999
†Oviparosiphidae Shaposhnikov, 1979
†Parvaverrucosidae Poinar & Brown, 2006
†Sinaphididae Zhang, Zhang, Hou & Ma, 1989
incertae sedis
†Palaeoforda tajmyrensis Kononova, 1977
†Penaphis Lin, 1980
†Plioaphis subhercynica Heie, 1968
†Sbenaphis Scudder, 1890
†Sunaphis Hong & Wang, 1990
†Xilutiancallis Wang, 1991
†Yueaphis Wang, 1993
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly,[a] although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white woolly aphids. A typical life cycle involves flightless females giving live birth to female nymphs—who may also be already pregnant, an adaptation scientists call telescoping generations—without the involvement of males. Maturing rapidly, females breed profusely so that the number of these insects multiplies quickly. Winged females may develop later in the season, allowing the insects to colonize new plants. In temperate regions, a phase of sexual reproduction occurs in the autumn, with the insects often overwintering as eggs.
The life cycle of some species involves an alternation between two species of host plants, for example between an annual crop and a woody plant. Some species feed on only one type of plant, while others are generalists, colonizing many plant groups. About 5,000 species of aphid have been described, all included in the family Aphididae. Around 400 of these are found on food and fiber crops, and many are serious pests of agriculture and forestry, as well as an annoyance for gardeners. So-called dairying ants have a mutualistic relationship with aphids, tending them for their honeydew and protecting them from predators.
Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions. In addition to weakening the plant by sucking sap, they act as vectors for plant viruses and disfigure ornamental plants with deposits of honeydew and the subsequent growth of sooty moulds. Because of their ability to rapidly increase in numbers by asexual reproduction and telescopic development, they are a highly successful group of organisms from an ecological standpoint.[1]
Control of aphids is not easy. Insecticides do not always produce reliable results, given resistance to several classes of insecticide and the fact that aphids often feed on the undersides of leaves. On a garden scale, water jets and soap sprays are quite effective. Natural enemies include predatory ladybugs, hoverfly larvae, parasitic wasps, aphid midge larvae, crab spiders, lacewing larvae, and entomopathogenic fungi. An integrated pest management strategy using biological pest control can work, but is difficult to achieve except in enclosed environments such as greenhouses.
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^Piper, Ross (2007). Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals. Greenwood Press. pp. 6–9. ISBN 978-0-313-33922-6.
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within...
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Acyrthosiphon pisum, commonly known as the pea aphid (and colloquially known as the green dolphin, pea louse, and clover louse), is a sap-sucking insect...
The black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) is a small black insect in the genus Aphis, with a broad, soft body, a member of the order Hemiptera. Other common...
The soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) is an insect pest of soybean (Glycine max) that is exotic to North America. The soybean aphid is native to Asia. It...
green peach aphid, greenfly, or the peach-potato aphid, is a small green aphid belonging to the order Hemiptera. It is the most significant aphid pest of...
Woolly aphids (subfamily: Eriosomatinae) are sap-sucking insects that produce a filamentous waxy white covering which resembles cotton or wool. The adults...
Macrosiphum rosae, the rose aphid, is a species of sap-sucking aphids in the subfamily Aphidinae. They have a world-wide distribution and infest rosebushes...
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Phyllaphis fagi, the woolly beech aphid, is a species of aphid in the family Aphididae. This species can be found in Central and Southern Europe and it...
Longistigma caryae, the giant bark aphid, is a species of giant aphid in the family Aphididae. "Longistigma caryae species details". Catalogue of Life...
cabbage aphid or cabbage aphis, is a destructive aphid (plant louse) native to Europe that is now found in many other areas of the world. The aphids feed...
salignus, or the giant willow aphid, is a species of aphid, in the genus Tuberolachnus. They are reputed to be the largest aphids, with a body length of up...
The Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia) is an aphid that can cause significant losses in cereal crops. The species was introduced to the United States...
spyrothecae, or the poplar spiral gall aphid, is a social insect which exhibits apparent altruistic behaviors. The aphids form galls and act as colony defenders...
Aphis gossypii is a tiny insect, an aphid ("greenfly") in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a true bug and sucks sap from plants...
Coloradoa is a genus of aphids, in the subfamily Aphidinae. "genus Coloradoa Wilson, 1910: Aphid Species File". aphid.speciesfile.org. Retrieved 2023-09-24...
Aphis pomi, commonly known as the apple aphid (the literal meaning of its binomial name), or the green apple aphid, is a true bug in the family Aphididae...
Lipaphis erysimi is a species of aphid of the family Aphididae. Its common names include mustard aphid and turnip aphid. It is found in most temperate and...
blight aphid (Grylloprociphilus imbricator) is a small insect in the order Hemiptera that feed primarily on the sap of American beech trees. The aphids form...
Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale, the rice root aphid or red rice root aphid, is a sap-sucking insect pest with a wide host range and a global distribution...
Pentalonia nigronervosa, the banana aphid, is an aphid in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a true bug and sucks sap mainly from...
Acyrthosiphon kondoi, the blue alfalfa aphid or bluegreen aphid, is an aphid in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a true bug and...
Bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) is an aphid in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a true bug and sucks sap from plants...
Eriosoma lanigerum, the woolly apple aphid, woolly aphid or American blight, is an aphid in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a...
Melaphis rhois is an aphid species first identified by Asa Fitch in 1866. Known as the staghorn sumac aphid, it is the only species in the genus Melaphis...
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