GARDEN PESTS
Destructive little critters
A
nyone who has tried
to grow vegetables will
know that sooner or
later the plants are going to
receive some unwelcome
attention from aphids. Aphids
can be among the most
destructive insect pests on
cultivated plants in temperate
regions. The damage they do
to plants has made them
enemies of farmers and
gardeners the world over.
From a zoological standpoint
however, they are a highly
successful group of organisms,
due partly to their ability to
reproduce asexually.
About 4 400 species are
known, all included in the
family Aphididae.
Aphids are small, soft-bodie