Aphids have a short life cycle and can produce a large number of generations each year. It takes roughly eight days for an aphid to reach adulthood.
Female aphids stay in egg form throughout the winter before they hatch. These aphids then give birth to live young and do not require a mating partner to do so. They can have up to 12 offspring per day. After this cycle is over, some males are produced. Once males are introduced to the community, sexual reproduction takes place. It is possible for a single aphid to have around 80 children each week, and this large output means that populations can increase exponentially when combined with the species' short maturation time.
Aphids are typically flightless, but some possess wings. They are found in gardens and large crops. Each species of aphid has a different color, and specific plants may host different aphid types. However, aphids generally prefer certain plants, such as beans and peas, to others. In addition to being eaten, some plants can get diseases from aphids that can cause further damage.
Controlling an aphid infestation is possible by bringing in other insects that eat aphids, reducing weeds and removing infested plants.
