Aphids

Definition

Small, soft-bodied sap-sucking insects in the family Aphididae (order Hemiptera), characterized by piercing-sucking mouthparts, complex life cycles often involving telescoping generations of parthenogenetic females, and frequent production of winged morphs for dispersal. Many species are significant agricultural pests and serve as vectors for plant viruses.

Etymology

From New Latin Aphididae, derived from Greek aphis, aphid- (a plant louse)

Example

The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum undergoes multiple parthenogenetic generations on legume crops before producing winged sexual morphs that disperse to overwintering hosts.

Synonyms

• Plant lice
• greenfly
• blackfly

Related Terms

• Hemiptera
• Parthenogenesis
• telescoping generations
• stylets
• honeydew
• Ant-aphid mutualism
• plant virus vector
• Aphididae

Usage Notes

While "greenfly" and "blackfly" are common names, they refer to color morphs within species rather than distinct taxa. The woolly aphids (subfamily Eriosomatinae) are distinguished by waxy filamentous secretions. Many aphids exhibit polyphenism, with winged and wingless forms induced by crowding or host quality.