Aphid
| Aphids | ||||||||||||
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 SEM image | ||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
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| Families | ||||||||||||
| Adelgidae Aphididae Pemphigidae Phylloxeridae and several more |
Aphids (superfamily Aphidoidea) are small plant-sucking insects. There are several families and numerous genera, including Adelges, Aphis, Brevicoryne, Daktulosphaira (Vine Phylloxera), Eriosoma, Macrosiphum, Marchalina, Metopolophium, Myzus, Pemphigus, Phylloxera, Rhopalosiphum, Tetraneura and many more.
Many aphids are serious pests in agriculture and forestry, and an annoyance for gardeners. Important natural predators include ladybirds, hoverfly larvae and lacewingss.
Some species of ants "farm" aphids, supplying them with leaves to eat, and eating the honeydew that the aphids secrete.
P-14 lady beetle consuming an aphid
More photos of (beneficial insect)ladybugs eating aphids can be seen at: http://www.pollinator.com/gallery/June/ladybug.htm