Aphid Genomics and its contribution to understanding aphids as crop pests

This chapter considers some examples of how aphid genomes have contributed to understanding aphids as crop pests. It aims to give a very broad overview of areas where genomics has contributed to understanding aspects of aphid biology, ecology, behaviour and evolution, which in turn have played important roles in the way aphids have colonized crops and achieved pest status. In some areas, especially in understanding insecticide resistance, host location and plant-aphid interactions, it is to be hoped that such studies will aid future crop protection strategies, both in the better use and design of conventional chemical control and in the development of novel ways of preventing aphids from reducing crop production.