A to Z of Pests

Aphids

Family Aphididae

Appearance

• Adults 2−3mm.
• They are usually green, although black, grey, yellow and orange varieties may also be found.
• Wingless forms are the most common, although winged forms enable infestations to spread.

Lifecycle

• They reproduce asexually in the summer giving birth to live young.
• They can live for up to a month and produce between 3 and 10 young per day.

Habits

• They will attack most soft tissued plants preferring shoot tips and the underside of young leaves.
• Their excretion of honeydew encourages mould to grow on the plant.