Hemiptera

Aphids

Foxglove aphid Aulacorthum solani
Foxglove aphid Aulacorthum solani

What are aphids?

Aphids form a single, very large group of insects: the super- family Aphidoidea, belonging to the order Hemiptera. The aphids discussed here all belong to the family Aphididae, a family containing many species that cause damage in cultivated crops. The most significant aphids that occur in greenhouses are:

  • Myzus persicae subsp. persicae (green peach aphid) and Myzus persicae subsp. nicotianae (tobacco aphid) on various vegetable and ornamental crops.
  • Aphis gossypii (cotton aphid), mainly on Cucurbitaceae, but also on chrysanthemums, and sweet pepper.
  • Macrosiphum euphorbiae (potato aphid), mainly on Solanaceae and various ornamental crops.
  • Aulacorthum solani (glasshouse potato aphid), mainly on Solanaceae and various ornamental crops, e.g. begonia.

Aphids life cycle