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Asian Balsam Aphid

Impatientinum asiaticum

The Asian Balsam Aphid is a tiny bug that loves to munch on plants. They are often found in groups and can be seen on the leaves of flowers and vegetables.

Habitat: Urban areas, Gardens

Appearance

The Asian Balsam Aphid is a tiny, soft-bodied insect, typically pear-shaped and green or yellowish-green. It often matches the colour of its host plant, Himalayan balsam, helping it blend in. Some forms have delicate, transparent wings.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHemipteraFamilyAphididaeGenusImpatientinum
Asian Balsam Aphid
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Asian Balsam Aphid

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Wow! Many tiny aphids can cover an entire plant stem, making it look like it's wiggling!

Wow! Some aphids are born pregnant, meaning they already have babies inside them!

Wow! The sweet honeydew aphids produce can make plant leaves super sticky and shiny!

Wow! These tiny plant eaters sometimes shed their old skins, leaving ghostly white flakes behind!

Special abilities

Ability

Clone Creator

Asian Balsam Aphid can reproduce without a partner, creating many genetic copies of itself, which helps them multiply fast.

Ability

Sap Sucker

Asian Balsam Aphid has specialized mouthparts to pierce plant stems and suck out sugary sap, which helps them get all their food.

Ability

Honeydew Dropper

Asian Balsam Aphid can excrete a sweet, sticky liquid called honeydew, which helps them attract protective ants.

Ability

Winged Wanderer

Asian Balsam Aphid can grow wings to fly to new plants when their current home gets too crowded, helping them find fresh food.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
2-6 mm
Size
1-3 mm
Lifespan
10-30 days
Flight Speed
0.3 km/h
Leg Count
6
Colony Size
5000

Diet & Feeding

This tiny insect sips sugary sap from plants, like drinking soda through a straw!

Primary Foods

  • Impatiens glandulifera sap
  • Plant phloem sap
  • Sugary plant fluids

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

depends on

Himalayan Balsam

Impatiens glandulifera

source of all its food.

eaten by

Seven-spotted Ladybug

Coccinella septempunctata

ladybug larvae and adults feast on aphids.

symbiotic with

Black Garden Ant

Lasius niger

provides honeydew for ants, ants offer protection.

eaten by

Common Green Lacewing

Chrysoperla carnea

lacewing larvae hunt and eat many aphids.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Don't touch bugs without asking an adult, as some can bite or sting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Asian Balsam Aphid's wingspan?

2-6 mm

How big is Asian Balsam Aphid?

1-3 mm

How long does Asian Balsam Aphid live?

10-30 days

How fast can Asian Balsam Aphid fly?

0.3 km/h

What does Asian Balsam Aphid eat?

This tiny insect sips sugary sap from plants, like drinking soda through a straw!

Where is Asian Balsam Aphid usually found?

Urban areas, Gardens

How does Asian Balsam Aphid hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Asian Balsam Aphid have?

6

Snap Map

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