A type of soft-bodied insect that feeds on plant sap Many species are tended by ants that feed on the HONEYDEW the aphids produce Greenfly and blackfly are types of aphid
Aphids come in a spectrum of colors and a number of different sizes Some have wings, others do not They are all soft bodied insect pests that suck plant juices; damage eventually may lead to distorted growth, including curled leaves Though they multiply quickly, forming clusters on stems and the undersides of leaves, they are controllable Often, a simple blast of water will suffice, injuring and knocking aphids from branches Soapy water (see also insecticidal soap), as well as garlic water, can also be effective There are many beneficial insects that control aphid populations; among them are ladybugs, predatory midges, lacewings, and parasitic wasps If none of these are already present in your garden, you may consider releasing one or two species if aphid problems persist
Aphids are very small insects which live on plants and suck their juices. a type of small insect that feeds on the juices of plants (aphis, from ). Any of several species of sapsucking, soft-bodied insects (order Homoptera) that are about the size of a pinhead, with tubelike projections on the abdomen. Serious plant pests, they stunt plant growth, produce plant galls, transmit plant viral diseases, and deform leaves, buds, and flowers. Ants may take care of aphids, protecting them from weather and natural enemies and transferring them from wilted to healthy plants. The ants in turn obtain honeydew, a sweet product excreted by aphids, which the ants retrieve by "milking" the aphids (stroking their abdomens)