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The Aphididae are a very large insect family in the aphid
superfamily SUPERFAMILY is a database and search platform of structural and functional annotation for all proteins and genomes. It classifies amino acid sequences into known structural domains, especially into SCOP superfamilies. Domains are functional, str ...
( Aphidoidea), of the
order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
Hemiptera Hemiptera (; ) is an order (biology), order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, Reduviidae, assassin bugs, Cimex, bed bugs, and shield bugs. ...
. These insects suck the sap from plant leaves. Several thousand species are placed in this family, many of which are considered plant/crop pests. They are the family of insects containing most plant virus vectors (around 200 known) with the green peach aphid ('' Myzus persicae'') being one of the most prevalent and indiscriminate carriers.


Evolution

Aphids originated in the late Cretaceous about (Mya), but the Aphidinae which comprises about half of the 4700 described species and genera of aphids alive today come from their most recent radiation which occurred in the late Tertiary less than 10 Mya.Von Dohlen CD, Moran NA (2000) Molecular data support a rapid radiation of aphids in the Cretaceous and multiple origins of host alternation. Biol J Linnean Soc 71: 689–717Von Dohlen CD, Rowe CA, Heie OE (2006) A test of morphological hypotheses for tribal and subtribal relationships of Aphidinae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae) using DNA sequences. Mol Phylo Evol 38: 316–329


Reproduction

Most aphid species can reproduce both asexually and sexually, with several parthenogenetic generations between each period of sexual reproduction. This is known as cyclical parthenogenesis and, in temperate regions, sexual reproduction occurs in autumn and results in the production of overwintering eggs, which hatch the following spring and initiate another cycle. Many pest aphids, however, do not overwinter as an egg but as nymphs or adults and others as both eggs and active stages (see Williams and Dixon 2007). For their size, the parthenogenetic individuals have very short developmental times and potentially prodigious rates of increase (de Réaumur 1737; Huxley 1858; Kindlmann and Dixon 1989; Dixon 1992). Thus, aphids show very complex and rapidly changing within-year dynamics, with each clone going through several generations during the vegetative season and being made up of many individuals, which can be widely scattered in space. The survival of the eggs and/or overwintering aphids determines the numbers of aphids present the following spring. The within-year dynamics of aphids are largely determined by seasonal changes in host quality. Aphids do best when amino acids are actively translocated in the phloem. In spring, the leaves grow and import amino acids via the phloem; in summer leaves are mature and export mainly sugars. In autumn, the leaves senesce and export amino acids and other nutrients. Thus on trees the leaves are most suitable for aphids in spring and autumn. The differences in within-year population dynamics of aphids are due to differences in the effect these seasonal fluctuations in host plant quality have on the per capita rate of increase and intraspecific competition in each species. This annual cycle, consisting of two short periods when the host plant is very favourable and a long intervening period when it is less favourable, is well documented for tree dwelling aphids. This has greatly facilitated the modelling of their population dynamics. In general the aphid carrying capacity of annual crop plants tends to increase with the season until the plants mature after which it tends to decrease very rapidly. Thus, the aphid carrying capacity of trees tends to be high in spring and autumn and low in summer, whereas that particularly of short-season annual crops tends to be low early in a year, peaking mid year and then declining.


Characteristics

Members of the Aphididae are soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects called aphids, as are other members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Most of them have a pair of little tubes, called
cornicle The cornicle (or siphuncule) is one of a pair of small upright backward-pointing tubes found on the dorsal side of the 5th or 6th abdominal segments of aphids. They are sometimes mistaken for cerci. They are no more than pores in some species. ...
s, projecting dorsally from the posterior of their abdomens. The cornicles have been variously interpreted as organs of excretion or for the production of honeydew, but their only confirmed function to date is that they produce fatty
alarm pheromones A pheromone () is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to affect the behavio ...
when the insects are attacked by predators. When wings are present they occur only on particular
morph Morph may refer to: Biology * Morph (zoology), a visual or behavioral difference between organisms of distinct populations in a species * Muller's morphs, a classification scheme for genetic mutations * "-morph", a suffix commonly used in tax ...
s called " alates", and wingless morphs are said to be "
apterous Aptery is the anatomical condition of an animal completely lacking any kind of wings. An animal with this condition is said to be apterous. Most animal species belong to and are phylogenetic descendants of apterous taxa. These groups are said to ...
". The forewing ( mesothoracic wing) of the alate in the Aphididae has four to six veins attached to a major vein-like structure that has been interpreted as the combined stems of all the other major wing veins. That structure ends in a stigma, a solid spot on the
anterior Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...
margin of the forewing. The rear (metathoracic) wings have a similar scheme, but simpler in structure, with no stigma The rear wing however, does bear a
hamulus A hamus or hamulus is a structure functioning as, or in the form of, hooks or hooklets. Etymology The terms are directly from Latin, in which ''hamus'' means "hook". The plural is ''hami''. ''Hamulus'' is the diminutive – hooklet or little ho ...
, a small hook that, when in flight, engages the claval fold of the forewing, keeping the wing beats in synchrony. All aphids have very small eyes, sucking mouthparts in the form of a relatively long, segmented rostrum, and fairly long
antenna Antenna ( antennas or antennae) may refer to: Science and engineering * Antenna (radio), also known as an aerial, a transducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic (e.g., TV or radio) waves * Antennae Galaxies, the name of two collid ...
e. These insects are so small (a few millimeters in length), that winds can transport them for fairly long distances. They are often green, but might be red or brown, as well. They move quite slowly and cannot jump or hop. Aphids excrete a sugary liquid called honeydew, because the plant sap from which they feed contains excess carbohydrates relative to its low protein content. To satisfy their protein needs, they absorb large amounts of sap and excrete the excess carbohydrates. Honeydew is used as food by ants, honeybees, and many other insects.


Classification

There is considerable controversy in the classification of aphids, with conservative classifications recognizing as many as 24 subfamilies within a single family Aphididae and others elevating various subfamilies to establish as many as 9 other families within Aphidoidea in addition to Aphididae.


Subfamilies

The ''Aphid Species File''Aphid Species File (Version 5.0/5.0; retrieved 10 July 2021)
/ref> currently (2021) lists: *
Aiceoninae ''Aiceona''Takahashi R (1934) ''Stylops'' 3(3): 56. is the only genus in Aiceoninae: a monotypic subfamily of aphids Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, ...
astop & van Emden. 1972?/small> - monotypic *
Anoeciinae Anoeciinae is a subfamily of the family Aphididae The Aphididae are a very large insect family in the aphid superfamily ( Aphidoidea), of the order Hemiptera. These insects suck the sap from plant leaves. Several thousand species are placed in ...
Tullgren, 1909 *
Aphidinae Aphidinae is an aphid subfamily in the family Aphididae. Many species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the la ...
Latreille, 1802 *
Baltichaitophorinae Baltichaitophorinae is a subfamily of the family Aphididae. References Aphididae Hemiptera subfamilies {{Aphididae-stub ...
Heie, 1980 * Calaphidinae Oestlund, 1919 *
Chaitophorinae Chaitophorinae is a subfamily of aphids in the family Aphididae. There are about 12 genera and more than 180 described species in Chaitophorinae. Genera Tribe: Chaitophorini * '' Chaitogenophorus'' Zhang, Qiao & Chen, 1999 * '' Chaitophorus'' ...
Börner. 1949 * Drepanosiphinae Herrich-Schaeffer, 1857 *
Eriosomatinae Woolly aphids (subfamily: Eriosomatinae) are sap-sucking insects that produce a filamentous waxy white covering which resembles cotton or wool. The adults are winged and move to new locations where they lay egg masses. The nymphs often form la ...
aker, 1920?/small> *
Greenideinae Greenideinae is a subfamily of the family Aphididae. Genera Tribe: Cervaphidini '' Anomalaphis'' - '' Anomalosiphum'' - '' Brasilaphis'' - ''Cervaphis Cervaphis is a genus of aphids of the family Aphididae The Aphididae are a very lar ...
Baker, 1920 *
Hormaphidinae Hormaphidinae is a subfamily of the family Aphididae. Genera Tribe: Cerataphidini ''Aleurodaphis'' - ''Astegopteryx'' - ''Cerataphis'' - ''Ceratoglyphina'' - ''Ceratovacuna'' - ''Chaitoregma'' - ''Glyphinaphis'' - ''Ktenopteryx'' - ''Pseudoregm ...
aker 1920?/small> * Israelaphidinae Ilharco, 1961 - monotypic *
Lachninae Lachninae is a subfamily of the family Aphididae, containing some of the largest aphids, and they are sometimes referred to as "giant aphids". Members of this subfamily typically have greatly reduced cornicle The cornicle (or siphuncule) is o ...
Herrich-Schaeffer, 1854 *
Lizeriinae Lizeriinae is a subfamily of the family Aphididae. References Aphididae Hemiptera subfamilies {{Aphididae-stub ...
Blanchard, 1923 * Macropodaphidinae Zachvatkin & Aizenberg, 1960 *
Mindarinae Mindarinae is a small subfamily of the family Aphididae The Aphididae are a very large insect family in the aphid superfamily ( Aphidoidea), of the order Hemiptera. These insects suck the sap from plant leaves. Several thousand species are pla ...
Tullgren, 1909 - monotypic * Neophyllaphidinae Takahashi, 1921 - monotypic * Phloeomyzinae Mordvilko, 1934 * Phyllaphidinae Herrich-Schaeffer, 1857 * Pterastheniinae Remaudière & Quednau, 1988 * Saltusaphidinae Baker, 1920 *
Spicaphidinae Spicaphidinae is a small subfamily of the family Aphididae. References Aphididae Hemiptera subfamilies {{Aphididae-stub ...
Essig, 1953 *
Taiwanaphidinae ''Taiwanaphis'' is the sole genus in Taiwanaphidinae: a monotypic subfamily of the family Aphididae. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q10690039, from2=Q18393234 Aphididae Hemiptera subfamilies Sternorrhyncha genera Taxa named by Ryoichi Tak ...
Quednau & Remaudière, 1994 - monotypic * Tamaliinae Oestlund, 1923 - monotypic *
Thelaxinae Thelaxinae is a subfamily of the family Aphididae The Aphididae are a very large insect family in the aphid superfamily ( Aphidoidea), of the order Hemiptera. These insects suck the sap from plant leaves. Several thousand species are placed i ...
Baker, 1920 * Fossil genera


Selected species


See also

*Wooly aphids - Subfamily:
Eriosomatinae Woolly aphids (subfamily: Eriosomatinae) are sap-sucking insects that produce a filamentous waxy white covering which resembles cotton or wool. The adults are winged and move to new locations where they lay egg masses. The nymphs often form la ...


References


External links

* On the UF /
IFAS IFAS may refer: * Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences * Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge, a sewage treatment process * International French adjectival system In rock climbing, mountaineering, and other climbing disciplines, clim ...
Featured Creatures Web site:
''Aphis gossypii'', melon or cotton aphid




















{{Authority control Aphids Hemiptera families Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille