CREATURE FEATURE
Aphids are so common in the garden, and so annoying to the gardener, that it's easy to think of them as simple creatures: walking plankton who appear from nowhere to chow down on your favourite plants (and aphids will attach themselves to almost anything). But nothing in nature is as it seems.
The UK is home to more than 500 species of aphid, many of whom are specialists, focusing on a single, pair, or select group of species. Some of thethe pear-bedstraw aphid, bird cherry-oat aphid, damson-hop aphid and peach-potato aphid are some of the most common in the UK. The peach-potato aphid's name doesn't really do it justice: in summer it will utilise a wide array of garden crops including peas and brassicas, lettuces, squashes and chillies, as well as peaches and potatoes.
