Amazing Facts about Aphids

➣ Aphids evolved in the early Permian period , some 280 millions years ago.
➣ About 5000 described species of aphids has been found in the world.

➣ Around 400 species of aphids found in food and fiber crops.

➣ Aphids are small sap-sucking insects, often called as greenfly and blackfly , however individual in a species can very widely in colour.

➣ Many of the aphids are serious pests of agriculture , foresty and of course harming gardens.

Bond between Ants and Aphids .

➣ Ants have a mutualistic relationship with aphids. They protect them from predators and get honeydew from Aphids

➣ Aphids can migrate great distances, mainly through passive dispersal by winds.

➣ Winged aphids may also rise up in the day as high as 600 m where they are transported by strong winds.

➣ Most aphids have soft bodies, which may be green, black, brown, pink, or almost colorless. Aphids have antennae with two short, broad basal segments and up to four slender terminal segments.

➣ When host plant quality becomes poor or conditions become crowded, some aphid species produce winged offspring so they can migrate to other food sources.

➣ The majority of aphids are wingless, but winged forms are produced at certain times of year in many species.

➣ Most of the Aphids species feed on only specific plants.

➣ Some species of aphids , about 10% of species feed on different plants at different times of the year.

➣ The winged adults of aphids found new host plant, through detection of odorous by using the antenna.

➣ Aphids is the only known example of photoheterotrophy in animals.

➣ aphids may well be able to absorb solar energy and convert it to a form that their cells can use, ATP.

➣ Aphids use their carotenoids to observe solar energy.

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