What is Aphid?
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Taxobox | name = Aphids | image = Aphids1533.JPG | image_width = 250px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | classis = [[Insect]]a | ordo = [[Hemiptera]] | subordo = [[Sternorrhyncha]] | superfamilia = '''Aphidoidea''' | subdivision_ranks = Families}} '''Aphids''' are small [[insect|bug]]s which feed on [[plant]]s. Aphids cause more plant damage than any other insects.<ref>George C. McGavin 1993. ''Bugs of the world''. Infobase Publishing. {{ISBN|0-8160-2737-4}}</ref> There are over 4,000 different [[species]] of aphid. About 250 species are serious [[pest]]s for [[agriculture]] and [[forestry]] as well as an annoyance for [[gardener]]s. They vary in size from 1-10&nbsp;[[millimetre|mm]] long. Important natural enemies include the predatory [[Coccinellidae|lady beetles]] ([[Coleoptera]]: [[Coccinellidae]]), [[hoverfly]] [[larvae]], lacewings ([[Neuroptera]]), larvae of the aphid [[midge]] ''Aphidoletes aphidimyza'', [[crab spider]]s, and insect-eating fungi like ''Lecanicillium lecanii''. Aphids are found many places on earth. Aphids are most common in [[temperate zone]]s. Aphids can travel far in the air. For example, the [[lettuce aphid]] spread from [[New Zealand]] to [[Tasmania]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2005/s1493620.htm|date=October 30, 2005|title=Landline: Scientist battles lettuce aphid.|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corp|access-date=January 1, 2007}}</ref> They have also been spread by human transportation of infested plant materials. [[File:Baltic amber inclusions - Aphid (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Aphidoidea)7.JPG|thumb|200px|Aphid in Baltic [[amber]]]] ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Hemiptera]] [[Category:Agricultural pests]]