pea aphid

noun

: a widely distributed aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) that is a serious pest on legumes (such as alfalfa, pea, and clover)

Examples of pea aphid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web High-speed photography and mathematical modeling revealed the secret of the pea aphid. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2013 The latest potential deviant is the pea aphid , a foe to farmers and a friend to geneticists. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 18 Sep. 2012 The pea aphid’s story tells us that genetic swaps between complex species like fungi and animals are possible, although probably still rare. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 29 Dec. 2010 The reason for these trends is simple: the pea aphid naturally outcompetes the black bean aphid. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 14 Aug. 2012 The pea aphid carries guardian bacteria called Hamiltonella defensa that protect their host from parasitic wasp. Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2011

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pea aphid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pea aphid was in 1903

Dictionary Entries Near pea aphid

Cite this Entry

“Pea aphid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pea%20aphid. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on pea aphid

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!