XYLEM, PHLOEM AND PLANT PESTS
APHIDS AND THEIR SEVEN (7) LIFE PROCESSES
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Aphids move using their six jointed legs. They crawl slowly across leaves and stems to find the
best spots to feed. Even though they’re not fast like ants or flies, they still change position when
needed. If a predator like a ladybird comes close, aphids can drop off the plant to escape — that’s
a defense behavior. When their plant gets overcrowded or the food (phloem sap) runs low, some
aphids develop wings. These winged aphids can fly to new plants, helping the colony spread.
This kind of movement is called active dispersal, and it’s key to their survival.
2. Respiration
Aphids need energy to do everything — move, grow, reproduce. They get this energy through
aerobic respiration, which means they use oxygen to break down sugar. Oxygen enters their
body through tiny holes called spiracles, found on the sides of their abdomen. Inside their cells,
oxygen helps break down glucose (a sugar they get from phloem sap), releasing ATP — the
energy molecule. This process happens in the mitochondria, just like in other animals and
insects.
3. Sensitivity
Aphids are sensitive to changes in their surroundings. They have sensory organs on their
antennae and body that detect light, temperature, touch, and chemicals. If a predator approaches,
some aphids release alarm pheromones — chemical signals that warn others to escape. They
also sense the quality of the plant they’re feeding on. If the sap becomes poor or the plant is
damaged, they may move to a healthier one.
4. Growth
Aphids grow through a process called molting. Since they have a hard outer shell (called an
exoskeleton), they can’t grow continuously. Instead, they shed this shell several times as they get
bigger. Each stage between molts is called an instar. After about four or five molts, they become
adults. Growth is fast — in good conditions, an aphid can go from newborn to adult in just a few
days. Their growth rate depends on temperature, food quality, and crowding.
5. Reproduction
Aphids are reproduction champions. In warm seasons, they use asexual reproduction —
females give birth to live young without mating. This is called parthenogenesis, and the babies
are clones of the mother. These young aphids are born already pregnant, so the population grows
very fast. When the weather changes, aphids switch to sexual reproduction. Males and females
mate, and females lay eggs that survive cold conditions like winter. This switch helps them adapt
to different seasons and environments.
6. Excretion
Aphids feed on phloem sap, which is full of sugar but low in nutrients. To get enough protein,
they drink a lot of sap — way more sugar than they need. So they get rid of the extra sugar by
releasing a sticky liquid called honeydew. This comes out of their body and lands on leaves.
Ants love honeydew and often protect aphids to keep collecting it. But honeydew also causes
problems — it can lead to sooty mold, a black fungus that grows on leaves and blocks sunlight,
harming the plant.
7. Nutrition
Aphids feed by inserting a sharp mouthpart called a stylet into the plant. This stylet pierces the
plant’s tissue and reaches the phloem, which is the part of the plant that carries sugary sap.
Aphids suck out this phloem sap, which gives them water, sugar, and some nutrients. But
phloem sap doesn’t have enough amino acids, so aphids rely on symbiotic bacteria inside their
bodies to help make the nutrients they need.
A wingless aphid. Also known as an apterous form of an aphid
A Winged aphid, also called an alate