Pea aphid

Pea aphids are small, soft-bodied insects about 1-3 millimeters long that feed on peas and other legumes. They use their mouthparts to pierce plant tissue and extract sap, which provides them with nutrients. Aphids reproduce rapidly, often generating multiple generations a year, and can give birth to live young without mating in favorable conditions. They can also transmit plant diseases, making them pests for farmers. Natural predators like ladybugs and lacewings help control their populations, but large outbreaks can cause significant damage to crops.