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Stop to Watch the Aphids

Many gardeners strive to grow beautiful, insect-free plants, but as an insect lover, my favorite plants are the ones that always get pest insects. One favorite in my yard is a yellow daisy that becomes infested annually with beautiful red-colored aphids. For good insect viewing it is hard to beat the aphids. Aphids come in a variety of sizes and colors but most have a soft, pear-shaped body up to one-eighth inch long. Common aphid species come in all shades of green as well as black, pink, yellow and the already-mentioned bright red. The one distinguishing characteristic present on all aphids is not always easy to see, but it is there: each aphid has a pair of tubes on the top side of the back end of the abdomen. The tubes are called cornicles and are used to secrete wax and other substances.

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The Economics of Aphids Infestations

There are both wingless and winged forms, according to Matt O’Neal, assistant professor, Entomology. He says wingless soybean aphid adults are about 1⁄16 inch in length, pale yellow or green, and have dark-tipped cornicles (tail pipes) near the end of the abdomen. The winged form has a shiny black head and thorax with a dark green abdomen and black cornicles.

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