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Aphids (Homoptera)
Greenfly (Macrosiphum rosae): Green Fly or Rose Aphids are green or pink with black legs, similar in size to Giant Fuitfly (Drosophila hydei). These Aphids can be found on a number of garden and house plants and can be raised fairly easily in a greenhouse on miniature Roses but they are time consuming and can prove expensive to culture.
Water-lily Aphid (Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae): Small green - black Aphids similar in size to Tropical Springtails (Collembola). These Aphids live on water lilies and marginal pond plants, they can be collected by simply breaking off a leaf and placing in the terrarium. They are readily taken by Mantella and many newly metamorphosed Amphibians but sadly are virtually impossible to culture.
Blackfly (Aphis fabae): Black Fly or Black Bean Aphids are very similar in size to the Greenfly and are by far the easiest species of aphid to culture and so this is the species I have chosen to describe here.
Culturing Blackfly:
First you will need a number of disposable containers; 500ml plastic cups or jam jars are ideal.
Fill the cup to roughly 3/4 full with untreated sawdust.
Next place a handful of Broad beans, Sugar beat or Dock leaves onto the sawdust.
Add another layer of sawdust this time to 1 - 2cm.
Add 200ml of room temperature water, cover with cling film and leave to stand on a windowsill for a week.
After 7 days remove the cling film and place inside a fly net (wooden frame covered with fine mesh or muslin). At this stage it is best to start a new batch of cultures.
You are now ready to add you’re Aphids, it is possible to start a culture from 1 large female but it is always best to give it a good start by introducing a dozen or so to start.
After 4-5 days the culture will need watering again, trying not to disturb the Aphids too much if possible, remember do not add too much water 100ml or so should be enough
After another 4-5 days your culture should be ready to be harvested this can be done by simply blowing the Aphids into the terrarium.