aphid
Aphid (noun) means a tiny soft-bodied insect that feeds by sucking sap from plants, often clustering in large numbers on new shoots and doing serious damage in gardens and crops. Example: “The rose buds were black with aphids.”
How to Use Aphid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tiny insect that sucks the sap out of plants.
Neutral; standard in gardening and entomology.
The plural is 'aphids', and the older scientific plural 'aphides' appears only in technical writing.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The rose buds were black with _____.
Etymology
From modern Latin aphis, of uncertain origin.
Synonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are aphids harmful to plants?
Yes. They drain sap, which stunts growth and distorts new leaves, and they excrete a sticky honeydew that encourages sooty mould. Many species also carry plant viruses from one host to another, which is often the more serious problem.
How do you get rid of aphids naturally?
A strong jet of water knocks most of them off, and repeating it every few days keeps numbers down. Encouraging ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies gives you lasting control, and insecticidal soap handles heavy infestations without wiping out those predators.
What is the difference between an aphid and greenfly?
Greenfly is a common British name for the green-coloured aphids found on roses and vegetables, and blackfly for the dark ones on beans. Both are aphids; the everyday names simply describe colour rather than a separate kind of insect.