You learn something new every day
March 22nd, 2004 by Kathy Purdy · 4 Comments
I just learned that “aphid” is the plural of “aphis” from Jungle Jim at Scenic Nursery. “Aphids” is apparently incorrect, although it is so widespread I bet at least some dictionaries include it as acceptable.
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About Kathy Purdy
Kathy Purdy discovered the joys of writing in fourth grade, when she started corresponding with a former classmate. She's been writing letters ever since, first on looseleaf, then electronically, and now as weblog entries. That makes you, the blog reader, her pen pal. Her first independent (though frustrating) attempts at gardening were made in high school, though the gardening bug didn't bite hard until her mid-thirties, when she found herself mistress of a rural home on 15 acres. •
USDA Hardiness Zone:4 • AHS Heat Zone: 3 • Location: rural;
Southern Tier of NY • Geographic type: foothills of Appalachian
Mountains • Soil Type: acid clay • Experience level:
intermediate
• Particular interests: colchicums, narcissus, cottage gardening, NY
native plants, gardening with/for children
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4 responses so far ↓
1
M Sinclair Stevens
// Mar 26, 2004 at 12:27 pm
Yeah, if we want to speak latin, then aphis, aphides. But in English, it’s aphid, aphids. When foreign words become common English words, we apply English rules of transformation. Who wants to remember the rules for declining latin nouns?
2
Kathy
// Mar 26, 2004 at 7:23 pm
Your comment drove me to the Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary. I discovered you’re right–the plural of aphis is aphides, NOT aphid. But the singular “aphid” as a word of the English language (as opposed to botanical Latin) is listed in the dictionary and so, presumably, is also correct, and its plural is “aphids.” What I find interesting is that while an aphis is an aphid, an aphid is not necessarily an Aphis. According to this dictionary, an aphid is any insect of the superfamily Aphidoidea, but Aphis is the name of a genus within this superfamily. In the second definition of aphis, it is a synonym for “aphid,” but when capitalized it definitely botanical Latin.
But, of course, what you call them is not nearly as important as how you get rid of them. My first line of defense is a good hard spray with the hose, but if I’m really incensed, or it’s a houseplant, I squish ‘em with my fingers.
3
M Sinclair Stevens
// Mar 27, 2004 at 9:01 pm
Squishing with fingers is also my extermination method of choice (or washing with soapy water). The boys are appalled. But I think if you’re going to kill something it should be personal. No long-range pesticide bombs with far-reaching consequences for me.
4
M Sinclair Stevens
// Mar 29, 2004 at 5:06 pm
I responded to the email that you sent me, but your spam-blocker bounced it back.