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aphid

aphid

14 5.6
A small insect that sucks sap from plants and often damages them
  • noun
  • /ˈeɪfɪd/
translation icon : pulgón
  • One pest is the green peach aphid, a soft-bodied, sap-sucking insect that spreads 10 different potato viruses.
  • citrus aphid
  • brown citrus aphid
  • wheat aphid

And some species of ants actually protect the aphids from other insects that want to eat the aphids.

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Examples

  • And some species of ants actually protect the aphids from other insects that want to eat the aphids.

  • OK, so here is an aphid ridden cabbage plant.

  • I have not seen a single aphid on these plants since then.

  • You think an aphid did that?

  • - You know a lot about aphids?

  • - Do you know anything about aphids?

  • You're such a cute little aphid.

  • To the naked eye, it looks just like any other dark-colored aphid found on plants.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The Russian wheat aphid is a major pest worldwide of winter wheat, barley, and other cereal crops.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Last summer, I discovered thousands of aphids on my eggplants, which damaged the plants.

Synonyms

plant louse
vsaphid
7.0

A small insect like an aphid that sucks juices from plants

is narrower and denotes that specific pest species

Compounds

bean aphid
  • Specialized
7.2

A small black insect that eats the sap of beans and other crops

A young insect that eats aphids and other small insects

apple aphid
  • Specialized
7.1

A small bright green insect that eats apple tree leaves and makes them curl

balsam woolly aphid
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wingless insect that attacks and can kill balsam and Fraser fir trees

A small green insect that eats apple tree leaves and makes them curl

green peach aphid
  • Specialized
8.4

A small green insect that eats peach trees and other crops, often damaging them

9.9

A small insect that sucks sap from chrysanthemum plants and harms leaves and flowers

pine leaf aphid
  • Specialized
9.3

A small insect that feeds on the sap of pine or spruce needles

spruce gall aphid
  • Specialized
9.9

A small insect that makes pineapple-shaped growths on young spruce branches

woolly alder aphid
  • Specialized
9.8

A small insect with a white, wool-like covering that feeds on alder trees

woolly aphid
  • Specialized
7.9

A small insect that makes a white, cotton-like covering on plants

woolly apple aphid
  • Specialized
8.2

A small insect that feeds on apple trees, looks covered in white wool, and harms the tree

How Small

mite
11 5.1
aphid
14 5.6
bug
623 1.0
ant
308 1.0
beetle
95 1.0

Surface Forms

aphid singular
aphids plural

Etymology

Aphid comes from the old Greek word aphis, which means 'plant louse'. So an aphid is like a tiny 'louse' on plants that 'sucks' their sap, which is why these insects often damage crops and gardens.