Destructive insect pest, super-family aphioidea.
Aphids are members of the superfamily aphidoidea of insects. They are commonly known as greenflies, plant lice, blackflies, and whiteflies; but should not be confused with "jumping plant lice" or "true whiteflies".
Aphids have a reputation as one of the most destructive plant pests, although zoologically they could be considered a very successful group of insects. Of the roughly 4400 species known, about 250 are considered serious pests in agriculture, forestry, and horticulture.
Many aphids have complex reproductive cycles, including some which can be asexual under certain (resource boom) conditions. These adaptions can result in fast population growth under the right conditions, making an aphid infestation particularly destructive in a short period of time.
Aphids typically feed on a plant's sap although their damage can extend to growing buds. Typical plant damage include decreased growth rates, yellowing, stunted growth, curled leaves, wilt, and death. Aphids can also transmit viruses between plants.
Natural enemies include predatory ladybirds (ladybugs), hoverfly larvae, parasitic wasps, and lacewings. Many sustainable farming methods attempt to encourage these predators.
Use this tag for questions about aphids - typically these will be identification and eradication questions.
