| Name: |
Aphid |
| AKA: |
Sucker |
| Scientific Name: |
Acyrthosiphonpisum myzuspersicae |
| Description: |
1/16 - 1/8 inch; small, soft-bodied; slender, medium
sized legs; long antennae; prominent mouth parts that extend into
a proboscis. At the posterior end of the abdomen there is a pair of
cornicles (secretory tube-like ducts)through which the aphid secretes
a defensive fluid. This fluid is bad smelling and toxic to other insects
that might like to eat aphids. Some aphids secrete a waxy substance
through dermal (skin) glands, while others secrete a sweet substance
called "honeydew" from their anus. The cornroot aphid, Anuraphis
maidiradicis, is corraled and herded by ants who use the honeydew
as a constant source of food. In exchange the ants store aphid eggs
in winter and carry newly hatched young to weed roots. Later when
corn crops are growing they transfer the aphids to the corn roots.
|
| Diet: |
Aphids inject their sharp proboscis into a leaf vein
or stem and suck the sugary sap the plant is producing. Aphids will
swell up to 3 times their normal size by filling up on these sweet
juices. They will often just sit on the plant leaf constantly sucking
up goodies from the plant. |
| Habitat: |
Found in large numbers on the undersides of leaves and
soft stemmed plants. Some species of aphids prefer only specific types
of plants. |
| Wanted For: |
Killing plants and transmitting plant diseases such
as mosaic viruses of beans, sugarcane, cucumbers, beets and cabbage.
Some species transmit ring spot and potato yellow dwarf viruses. |
| Last Known Location: |
In the family garden on the underside of leaves and
on the stems of the pole beans. Drat! |
 |
