Aphis fabae

Black Bean Aphid

Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid. Common Aphid in the Redmire area, particularly on Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense. Feed by sucking sap from the plant, excreting the excess sugary fluid as honeydew. Often 'farmed' by Red Ants, Myrmica rubra, which defend the ants from predators and feed off the honeydew. Winged and wingless females present in summer, with males late season.


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Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid
Colony on thistle
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Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid
Colony on thistle
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Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid
Winged females
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Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid
Red Ant
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Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid
Red Ants

Photograph detail


Slide 1: Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid. Colony on stem of Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense. Redmire. July.


Slide 2: Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid. Colony on stem of Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense. Disused railway, Hargill, Redmire. July.


Slide 3: Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid. Colony on stem of Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense, with winged females present. Disused railway, Hargill, Redmire. July.


Slide 4: Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid. Colony on stem of Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense, with Red Ant, Myrmica rubra. Disused railway, Hargill, Redmire. July.


Slide 5: Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid. Colony on stem of Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense, with Red Ants, Myrmica rubra. Disused railway, Hargill, Redmire. July.