Every time I read something about ladybugs the author always mentions their importance for controlling aphids. Whats an aphid and why is it so important to control them?
The insect group we call aphids, (also called plant lice) is a large group of small (fruit fly-size), soft-bodied insects that are often found in large numbers sucking the sap from stems or leaves of plants. They feed in colonies that often contain large numbers of individuals. When aphids feed, they damage plant tissue creating a loss of plant fluids and the photosynthetic tissue needed to produce energy for plant growth. Over time, this causes loss of plant vigor. Aphids also transmit many plant diseases. Ladybugs are efficient and effective predators of aphids of all kinds. This is especially important to farmers as loss of plant vigor in their crop means a smaller harvest. The presence of a ladybug population effectively controlling aphids means less insecticide use and a greater profit after harvest.
