Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that belong to the superfamily Aphidoidea within the order Hemiptera. They are sap-sucking insects that feed on the fluids of plants using specialized piercing-sucking mouthparts called stylets. Aphids typically have pear-shaped bodies and can vary widely in color, including green, black, brown, pink, yellow, or almost colorless, with some species covered in a white, waxy secretion known as woolly aphids

. Aphids reproduce rapidly, often through parthenogenesis (females giving live birth to female nymphs without males), allowing populations to multiply quickly. Winged forms develop later in the season to colonize new plants. In temperate regions, sexual reproduction occurs in autumn, with eggs overwintering

. They are known to cause damage to plants by stunting growth, distorting leaves and buds, transmitting plant viruses, and producing a sticky substance called honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold growth

. Aphids are common pests on a wide range of plants, including ornamentals, vegetables, fruits, and houseplants, and they often cluster on the undersides of leaves, stems, buds, flowers, and fruit. They have natural predators such as ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, but can become problematic when populations grow large

. In summary, aphids are small, sap-sucking insects that can rapidly infest and damage plants, making them significant pests in gardens and agriculture worldwide