Analysis of Aphids by Giving Reference to Their Living Habits, Food Pattern - Research Paper Example

Among the known 4,400 species of 10 families, some species of aphids have asexual reproduction capability. Among the identified species, around 250 are most destructive pest causing threats to agriculture, forestry, and gardening. Aphids generally vary in length from 1 to 10 millimetres. Predatory ladybirds, hoverfly larvae, crab spiders, aphid midge larvae, lacewings, and Entomophthorales are some of the natural enemies of aphids. This paper will deeply analyze about aphids by giving reference to their living habits, food pattern, and special effects in nature and plants.

The basic classification about aphids indicates that they include to the Kingdom-Animalia, Phylum-Arthropoda, Class- Insecta, Order-Hemiptera, and Family-Aphididae. Last year, my colleagues and I had a trip to a reserve park in the Sepulveda basin wildlife reserve. The trip was greatly helpful for us to understand more about aphids, their life circulation, and their impacts on nature. Non-native invasive weeds and trees are not allowed in that area (Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve). While examining aphid symbioses, and mutualism and bacterial endosymbiosis are two important phenomena to be considered.

It is observed that some farming ant species collect and protect aphid eggs in their nests over the whole winter and bring back the newly hatched aphids back to the plant (Aphid). In turn, the farming ants feed the honeydew released by the aphids due to the terminations of their alimentary canals. A similar relation is seen between daring ants and aphids. In addition, an endosymbiosis with micro-organism is common insects; with almost 10% insects including many aphid species largely depend upon intracellular bacteria for their growth and survival.

The most important feature of the living habits of aphids is that they live in large groups and don’t migrate to other regions unless it is absolutely necessary.