aphid

Everyday

1. An aphid is a very small insect, often green or black, that sucks the sap (juice) from plants. tree →
2. Aphids are also called greenfly or blackfly in the UK. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons aphids are an example in food chains: they eat plant sap, and ladybirds (ladybugs), lacewings and birds eat aphids. Gardeners see them as pests because they weaken plants. Ants «farm» aphids for the sweet honeydew they make.

Examples

• Aphids were sucking the sap from the roses. tree →
• Ladybirds eat lots of aphids. tree →
• Look under the leaf: it's covered in tiny green aphids. tree →
• Ants protect aphids to get their sweet honeydew. tree →
• Too many aphids can make a plant wilt. tree →
• The food chain: rose → aphid → ladybird → bird. tree →

Note

Countable: an aphid, aphids. Pronounced «AY-fid». An aphid is an insect (six legs), not a bug from a computer. «Greenfly» are not flies; it is just a name.