Fauna
Insect

Black Bean Aphid

Aphis fabae

Also known as Blackfly, Bean Aphid, Beet Leaf Aphid

Dense colonies cluster on tender shoots and leaf undersides, extracting sap with piercing mouthparts while excreting sticky, sugary honeydew. During spring and summer, all-female populations reproduce via viviparous parthenogenesis, giving birth directly to live clones that mature in just days. Mutualistic ants frequently farm these aggregations, defending them from hungry predators in exchange for sweet honeydew secretions.

ColonialAgricultural PestSap-feeding
Black Bean Aphid reference
(c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyBroad bean sap, Sugar beet sap, Spindle tree sap
Predators
  • Seven-spot Ladybird
  • Common Green Lacewing
  • Hoverfly larvae
ThreatsInsecticide applications, predatory insects, and adverse weather conditions
HabitatsAgricultural fields, gardens, hedgerows, and temperate scrublands
Life span2–6 weeks
Classification
  1. OrderHemiptera
  2. FamilyAphididae
  3. GenusAphis
  4. SpeciesAphis fabae
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Harmless to humans and pets; safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Colony Inspection: Examine the undersides of broad bean leaves with a hand lens to see live birth in action.
  • Ant Symbiosis: Watch for ants gently stroking aphid abdomens with their antennae to collect honeydew.
Related species
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