Aphids

Aphids are common insects with soft pear-shaped bodies.  They are usually very small, only 1/8 to 1/16 of an inch big, though some varieties can get up to 1/2 inch long.  They come in various colors: black, gray, brown, yellow, green, pink and red.  Some aphids have wings, some do not.

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Because all aphids have them, one way to identify aphids is by the two little stems (called cornicles) that are found at the backend of their bodies. Even this may be difficult because some cornicles are very small and hard to see. 

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We have several common varieties of aphids in Virginia, including the Giant Bark Aphid (Gray with black spots), the Rose Aphid (green or pink), Green Peach Aphid (yellowish-green), Chrysanthemum Aphid (dark brown), and the Woolly Alder Aphid (blackish-blue). 

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Aphids feed on vegetation and a heavy infestation of aphids can harm the growth and health of the plant. They can also transmit plant diseases, as they insert their beaks into the plant to suck up the juice. They secrete a sugary, sticky substance that will fall on anything below them, such as other plants or vehicles.