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Aphids Their Lives and their Effects

Aphids are tiny herbivorous insects in the superfamily Aphidoidea, within the order Hemiptera, which also includes cicadas , gnats, and many other "true bugs.".There are ten families of aphids and about 4,000 species. Aphids live around the world, but are most common in temperate areas. They are distributed worldwide, but are most common in temperate zones.

Also, in contrast to many taxa, species diversity is much lower in the tropics than in the temperate zones. Aphids are the most common insects found on trees, shrubs, and garden ornamental plants. Over 350 different aphid species occur in the state but most can feed on only a few species of plants.

Aphids are soft-bodied insects that use their piercing sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap. They usually occur in colonies on the undersides of tender terminal growth. The presence of aphids, their shed skins and honeydew can reduce the aesthetic quality of a wide range of greenhouse crops. They also such tiny pests which can cause big problems in the garden. They damage plants by sucking the juices from the leaves and stems, which weakens the plant.

Aphids are sneaky and inconspicuous little beasties. They can show up, breed like crazy and completely destroy your flowers, vegetables and even trees before you ever know there’s a problem.

They feed on a large range of crops including vegetables, tree crops, broad acre crops and ornamentals. These tiny brown or black bugs show up in masses on the leaves of plants. On water plants, they will usually hunker down deep in the folds of new growth or dot the upper surface.

Plants of the rose family are popular with some, while bamboo, willow, oak, walnut, maple, sugarcane, lettuce, alfalfa, and more, are popular with others. One serious pest, Grape Phylloxera, is a relative of the aphid.

Because of their symbiotic relationship with aphids, keep ants out of the garden.

Females undergo a modified meosis that results in eggs that are genetically identical to their mother (parthenogenetic). The embryos develop within the mothers ovarioles, and give live birth to 1st instar nymphs (viviparous).

Generation after generation of wingless females survive one another until hot weather comes or maybe the plant on which they are living dies and then suddenly some of the females grow wings and fly off.

Aphids often feed in dense groups and do not move rapidly when disturbed. Generation time may be increased by dry conditions and host-plant stress. Often, aphids can achieve economically threatening populations within a week or two.

Leaves attacked by aphids have spotty yellow discolourations, usually on the undersides. The leaves may later dry out and wilt or curl. Leaves of plants may be distorted by aphids feeding on the undersides. Succulent stems may wilt or growth may be arrested by colonies of aphids.

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