Class: Insects
Size: 1 to 10mm
Weight: variable
Age: Approx. 2 to 6 weeks
Appearance: Light green to dark red
Sexual dimorphism: No
Food: Plant sap
Distribution: 3’000 worldwide
Species: Ca. 850 in Europe
Habitat: Flowerbeds, forests, meadows
Natural enemies: Gall midge, ladybird, hoverfly
Sexual maturity: After a few weeks
Mating season: Possible all year round
Threatened with extinction: No

• Aphids have existed for almost 300 million years and are among the best-known plant pests in the world.
• Aphids have different appearances during their development, which is why the biology of several generations of animals living in a group can be very different.
• Aphids are found on all continents of the world, there are worldwide thousands of species. About 800 of these insect species are native to Europe.
• Reproduction is either sexual or asexual, depending on the season. In asexual reproduction, a large population can be built up in a short time through live birth. A female can give birth to up to 5 young per day, these young are genetically identical to their mothers.
• Aphid colonies expand explosively on the undersides of leaves and plant buds and through their highly specialised proboscis they enter the conduits and suck the sugary sap from the plant. Infestation by aphids can usually be clearly recognised by the fact, that the leaves of the host plant are curled or bent and the young shoots and buds die completely.
• As the main pests in agriculture and gardens, aphids spread various types of plant viral diseases that lead to crop failures.
• When food is scarce, juveniles may grow wings to facilitate migration to other plants.
• Aphids metabolically produce a sugar-rich excrement called honeydew, which is an important food source for ants and many other insects such as bees. In the course of a symbiosis, ants maintain aphid communities, protect them from enemies and promote their rapid spread.
• The most important natural enemies of aphids are ladybirds, but also gall midge, pileated fly and hoverfly. Some bird species, spider larvae and other insects are natural predators.