Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that feed on plant sap by using their piercing sucking mouthparts. They are members of the superfamily Aphidoidea and are commonly known as greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. Some key facts about aphids include:

• Appearance: Aphids are typically pear-shaped and range in size from 1/16 to 1/8 inch long. They can be green, black, red, yellow, brown, or gray, and most species have a pair of tubelike projections called cornicles on the abdomen.

• Life cycle: A typical life cycle involves flightless females giving live birth to female nymphs, who may also be already pregnant, without the involvement of males. This is an adaptation called telescoping generations. Aphids can reproduce rapidly and build up large populations in a short amount of time.

• Damage: Aphids can be serious plant pests and may stunt plant growth, produce plant galls, transmit plant virus diseases, and cause the deformation of leaves, buds, and flowers. They weaken the plant by sucking sap and disfigure ornamental plants with deposits of honeydew and the subsequent growth of sooty molds.

• Control: Aphids can often be managed with only non-chemical options or low-risk pesticides. Beneficial insects, such as lady beetles and lacewings, can eat large numbers of aphids and help control their populations. Fatty acid salts or insecticidal soaps are also effective against aphids.

Aphids are relatively common insects and are found on most plants in yards and gardens. In most cases, they cause little or no damage to the health of plants, and treating aphids for the health of plants is usually unnecessary.