Spotting aphids in your garden can be worrisome. These tiny insects can cause trouble as they feed on plant sap and cause damage to them. The big problem is that aphids spread pretty quickly. But how? Do aphids lay eggs?
Yes, aphids do lay eggs. This is how they reproduce, as they do not give birth to live young.
Like most insects, aphids reproduce by laying eggs. Aphid eggs can be found in the soil or underneath plants. Aphids can reproduce in two ways; sexually and non-sexually. This can explain why aphids can quickly grow in large numbers.
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Where Do Aphids Lay Eggs?
The location where aphids decide to lay eggs depends on their species. Some aphids like to lay eggs on plants, while others choose the underside of the leaves. Aphids are always found in large colonies and this is where most of them also lay their eggs.
If you suspect that you have aphids, you can try looking closely at the plants. You will find aphid eggs on the leaves and the underside, so they stay hidden from predators. Some aphids lay eggs near flower buds.
As aforementioned, different species of aphids have their own preference for laying eggs. We have mentioned some aphids and where they like to lay eggs:
Sycamore Aphid
These aphids lay their eggs away from plants, their food source. This can be because the eggs hatch quickly. In addition, these aphids prefer to lay eggs in tree crevices and branches. You will usually find their eggs in large clumps.
Root Aphids
As the name suggests, root aphids like being closer to plant roots than the leaves. Hence, they are found in the soil and this is also where they choose to lay eggs. The eggs can be found under the ground, and the soil protects them from the cold winter.
How Do Aphids Reproduce?
Aphids are known for their fast reproduction. These insects can reproduce in two ways, either sexually or non-sexually. This is why you will find that the aphid population snowballs.
During sexual reproduction, aphids will reproduce with a male. On the other hand, aphids can reproduce non-sexually without needing a male to get involved.
The female aphids lay eggs and then proceed to make clones. As the eggs hatch, the male aphids which come out will reproduce with the female aphids.
Whether aphids choose to reproduce sexually or non-sexually depends on where they are and the seasons. For instance, when autumn, spring and summer are here, aphids produce asexually by making clones.
The females will lay eggs, and they survive during the winter. The eggs hatch, and the male aphids come out to mate with the females.
Do Aphids Lay Eggs in the Soil?
There are species of aphids, such as root aphids, which lay eggs in the soil.
You can find aphid eggs inside the soil. The soil protects the eggs from the harsh winter. Aphid eggs are hardy and can survive for long periods inside the soil. But, as you can imagine, this can make it even tougher to detect their presence.
What Do Aphid Eggs Look Like?
It will help if you know what aphid eggs look like in case you have to deal with an infestation.
Aphid eggs have an elliptical shape and are glued together with a thread. The female aphid produces the threads which bring the eggs together. The eggs are essentially hanging by the thread.
The reason why female aphids produce wax wool is to keep the eggs protected from predators.
Eggs which have just been laid will be light in colour. However, the eggs mature and grow darker in colour as time passes. Some aphids will produce coloured eggs to protect them from predators.
Mature aphid eggs will be brown, black or grey, depending on how much wax they are hanging by. In most cases, aphid eggs will be covered by a wool-like substance.
What Does the Aphid Lifecycle Look Like?
The aphid eggs hatch in the spring season, and the aphids that come out are females. The young aphids start to feed and mature. As these aphids mature, the female will shed their skin and become an adult. It takes as little time as a week for aphids to reach adulthood.
These female aphids are stem mothers who will begin the process of reproduction. The female aphid will choose a plant to reproduce on until it becomes overcrowded. Some aphids will develop wings and move on to colonize the next plant.
As the temperature falls and winter arrives, the female aphids will begin to produce male aphids. When summer ends, the female aphids produce eggs that overwinter the entire time until spring arrives to ensure that they hatch.
FAQs
Do you still have a question or two about aphids and the eggs they lay? Then check out these FAQs:
Do Aphids Reproduce Sexually or Asexually?
Aphids can reproduce both sexually and asexually, depending on their surroundings and the time of the year. This is why they can multiply their population at such a rapid rate.
Do Aphids Lay Eggs on Leaves?
Yes, aphids will lay eggs on leaves. They will lay eggs anywhere protected that has a viable source of food for their young.
Do Aphids Give Birth?
No, aphids do not give birth to live young. Instead, their young will come from eggs that the aphid will lay in large numbers. This is why their population grows at such a prolific rate.
Ryan is a keen gardener from the UK who’s spent years dealing with countless, common pests over the years so knows the ins and outs of how to deal with pests in the garden
Aphids do indeed give live birth….might want to clarify that.