Aphididae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Hemiptera Suborder: Homoptera Superfamily: Aphidoidea Family: Aphididae
Genera
Over 170, see below

Aphididae is a very large insect family in the aphid superfamily (Aphidoidea), of the order Hemiptera. There are several thousands of species in this family, most of which are well-known for being serious plant pests. They are also the family of insects containing most plant virus vectors (around 200 known) with Myzus persicae being one of the most prevalent and indiscriminate carriers.

Characteristics

Members of the Aphididae are soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects called aphids, like their relatives. Most of them have a pair of little tubes, called cornicles, projecting from the posterior of the abdomen. Wings are not always present; winged morphs are called "alates", while wingless morphs are known as "apterous". The forewings of Aphididae alates are dotted with 4 to 6 veins below the darkened stigma. They all have very small eyes, sucking mouthparts and fairly long antennae.

These insects are very small (a few millimeters in length), so small that they can be transported by wind through fairly long distances. They are often green, but might be red or brown as well. They move quite slowly and cannot jump or hop.

Aphids secret a liquid called honeydew, which is used as food by ants, honeybees and many other insects. A common misconception is that honeydew is secreted by the cornicles.

Gallery

Aphis nerii on flower buds of Nerium oleander.

Cinara species. Note individual right of center giving birth.

Macrosiphoniella tapuskae

Winged individual of Myzus persicae

Genera

Acyrthosiphon Allocotaphis Amphorophora Anoecia Anuraphis Aphidounguis Aphidura Aphis Asiphonaphis Astegopteryx Aulacorthum Betacallis Betulaphis Boernerina Brachycaudus Brachycolus Brachycorynella Brevicoryne Brevisiphonaphis Calaphis Callipterinella Callipterus Cavariella Cerataphis Ceratovacuna Chaetomyzus Chaetosiphon Chaitophorus Chaitoregma Chromaphis Cinara Clethrobius Clydesmithia Coloradoa Cornaphis Cryptomyzus Crypturaphis Doralis Doraphis Drepanaphis Drepanosiphoniella Drepanosiphum Dysaphis Eomacrosiphum Epipemphigus Ericolophium Eriosoma Essigella

Euceraphis Eulachnus Eumyzus Eutrichosiphum Fimbriaphis Fullawaya Geopemphigus Glyphina Gootiella Greenidea Grylloprociphilus Hamamelistes Hannabura Hormaphis Hyadaphis Hyalomyzus Hyalopterus Hyperomyza Hyperomyzus Hysteroneura Illinoia Indiaphis Indomasonaphis Kakimia Lachnus Laingia Lambersaphis Latgerina Longicaudus Longistigma Macromyzus Macrosiphoniella Macrosiphum Maculolachnus Masonaphis Matsumuraja Megoura Melanaphis Melanocallis Mermitelocerus Mesocallis Metopeurum Metopolophium Micromyzodium Micromyzus Microsiphum

Mimeuria Mollitrichosiphum Monaphis Monellia Mordvilkoja Mutillaphis Myzaphis Myzocallis[verification needed] Myzus Nagoura Nearctaphis Neoacyrthosiphon Neobetulaphis Neocranaphis Neomyzus Neopemphigus Neophyllaphis Neoprociphilus Neopterocomma Neotoxoptera Neuquenaphis Nippolachnus Nipponaphis Oestlundiella Orygia Ovatus Pachypappa Pachypappella Pachysphinx Paducia Panaphis Paracolopha Paramoritziella Paraprociphilus Patchiella Pemphigus Pentalonia Pergandeida Periphyllus Phloeomyzus Phorodon Phyllaphis Platyaphis Pleotrichophorus Plocamaphis Prociphilus

Protrama Pseudaphis Pseudasiphonaphis Pseudocercidis Pseudopterocomma Pseudoregma Pterocallis Pterochloroides Pterocomma Pyrolachnus Radisectaphis Reticulaphis Rhodobium Rhopalosiphoninus Rhopalosiphum Sanbornia Sappaphis Schizaphis Schizolachnus Schizoneurella Schoutedenia Semiaphis Shenahweum Shizaphis Sinomegoura Sitobion Stomaphis Symydobius Takecallis Taoia Taxodium Thecabius Thoracaphis Tinocalloides Toxoptera Trama Trichaitophorus Trifidaphis Tuberocephalus Tuberolachnus Tubicauda Uroleucon Vesiculaphis Wahlgreniella Yamatocallis Yamatochaitophorus

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Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Aphididae". Image Credit.

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