Aphis fabae

Black bean aphid

General

The black bean aphid, Aphis fabae, is widespread in temperate regions, where it is a serious economic pest of beans. It is highly polyphagous, and attacks a wide range of other crops.

Life cycle and appearance of Black bean aphid

Aphids have a complex life cycle, with both winged and wingless forms of adults and a great variety in colour. In greenhouses, reproduction takes place by parthenogenesis, with unfertilized viviparous females continuing to produce new generations of females. Aphids moult four times before reaching adulthood. With each moult they shed white skin, betraying their presence in the crop.

The black bean aphid is dark olive green to black with black bands across the back. The two cornicles (or siphunculi) are short and usually darker than the body. The legs are light yellow with darker tips. Adult wingless aphids are 1.5-3.1 mm long.

How to get rid of Black bean aphid

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