Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 2077503

Pea Aphid

Acyrthosiphon pisum

Also known as Green Pea Aphid, Pea Louse

Pea aphids are prominent leguminous crop pests known for their complex life cycles and dramatic color polymorphism, appearing in both bright green and reddish-pink forms. Using specialized piercing mouthparts, dense colonies tap into phloem sap on young leaves and stems, excreting sticky honeydew that encourages mold growth. Females reproduce parthenogenetically through most of the warm months, birthing live clone nymphs that mature into adults in less than a week.

Agricultural PestSap-SuckerModel Organism
Pea Aphid reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Mihajlo Tomić, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mihajlo Tomić · 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 & prey
  • Pea Plant Sap
  • Alfalfa Sap
  • Clover Sap
Predators
  • Seven-spot Ladybird
  • Hoverfly Larvae
  • Green Lacewing Larvae
ThreatsChemical insecticides, biological control predators, and high summer heat
HabitatsAgricultural crop fields, pastures, gardens, and weed-dominated fields
Life span20–30 days
Classification
  1. OrderHemiptera
  2. FamilyAphididae
  3. GenusAcyrthosiphon
  4. SpeciesAcyrthosiphon pisum
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
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Look under leaves: Inspect the soft undersides of pea shoots and clover leaves for colonies.
  • Notice color morphs: Look closely to spot both green and pink individuals sharing the same stem.
  • Check for predators: Watch nearby foliage for hungry ladybirds and hoverfly larvae hunting aphids.
Related species
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