Aphids are sap-sucking insects. They land on plant stems, push through their needle like mouth parts and drink the sugary liquid that the plant pushes up the stem to feed its growing leaves and flowers. If you look carefully, you will see that the greatest number of aphids collect near the top of the stem. This is where the greatest flow of sugar goes. The plant is damaged because its new stems and flowers are literally starved. Aphids ruin many crops like this, but their numbers can be kept in check by their natural predator – the ladybird.
The aphids drink is also its food and the only thing it takes in for nourishment is plant sap. This fuel is used for all of its life processes, including movement and reproduction. Aphids breed at a fantastic rate. One aphid can have 1,560,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 offspring in its lifetime. If this number of aphids were packed together, they could form a tower over one mile long, one mile wide, and 62,400 miles high.
The aphids drink is also its food and the only thing it takes in for nourishment is plant sap. This fuel is used for all of its life processes, including movement and reproduction. Aphids breed at a fantastic rate. One aphid can have 1,560,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 offspring in its lifetime. If this number of aphids were packed together, they could form a tower over one mile long, one mile wide, and 62,400 miles high.