Animal Profiles
Insects

Black Aphids

Aphididae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Black aphids are not a single species. This account follows the black bean aphid group, familiar in British gardens, where dense colonies feed on tender growth of many different plants.

Black bean aphid group (Aphis fabae), the representative described here.

Black bean aphid group (Aphis fabae), the representative described here.

Rasbak · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
The representative is the Aphis fabae species group, as treated by the Royal Horticultural Society. This account focuses on British gardens and cultivated plants rather than assigning one global range to every black aphid.
Habitat
Towns and cities
Diet
Herbivore
Food
Aphids draw sap from plants.

Classification

Common name
Black Aphids
Browse group
Insects
Scientific name or taxon
Aphididae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Hemiptera
Family
Aphididae
Source classification
Insecta

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Black aphids include several species.
  • They suck plant sap.
  • Colour alone is not enough for identification.

Habitat and range

The representative is the Aphis fabae species group, as treated by the Royal Horticultural Society. This account focuses on British gardens and cultivated plants rather than assigning one global range to every black aphid.

Appearance and adaptations

Small dark insects gather around young stems and leaves. Similar-looking black aphids on other hosts can belong to different species, so colour alone does not establish identity.

Diet and behaviour

Aphids draw sap from plants. Colonies can grow densely on soft new growth, and the sticky honeydew they produce can support sooty mould. The source describes seasonal host changes within this aphid group.

Sources

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