Aphid
Aphid
Aphids (/ˈeɪfɪdz/), also known as plant lice and in Britain and the Commonwealth as greenflies, blackflies, or whiteflies (not to be confused with Bemisia tabaci), are small sap-sucking insects, and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea.
Etymology
The word "aphid" comes from the Greek ἀφείδης (apheídes) meaning "unsparing, lavishly bestowed", which is a reference to their prodigious reproductive capacity.
Description
Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions. They are capable of extremely rapid increase in numbers by asexual reproduction. The damage they do to plants has made them enemies of farmers and gardeners around the world.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of the aphid is complicated by having many different forms, and involving asexual as well as sexual reproduction. The life cycle stages are: egg, nymphs (several stages), and adult. Some species of aphids have an additional stage, known as the fundatrix.
Related Terms
- Aphidoidea: The superfamily that aphids belong to.
- Nymph: The immature form of some insects, including aphids, which do not change greatly as they grow.
- Fundatrix: A special kind of female aphid that starts a new colony in the spring.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Aphid
- Wikipedia's article - Aphid
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