noun

• A minute bug that feeds by sucking sap from plants. It reproduces rapidly, often producing live young without mating, and may live in large colonies that cause extensive damage to crops.

  Superfamily Aphidoidea, suborder Homoptera

  ‘The gardener's friend, the busy little ladybird helps by eating aphids and greenfly.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘As a group, aphids attack a plant by sucking its fluids from tender new growth.’
  • ‘Keep a look out for aphids on tender young growth or on plants that are stressed and unhappy.’
  • ‘Using an oil spray will get rid of aphids, lacebugs and spider mites quickly.’
  • ‘Sap-sucking insects such as aphids carry viruses between plants.’