Includes melon aphid (Aphis gossypii) and others
Pest description and damage Several species of aphids may feed on the foliar, stem, flower, bud, bark or root tissues of broadleaf trees, shrubs. Aphids tend to be small (0.0625 to 0.125 inch in length), oval to pear-shaped, soft-bodied insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Color varies but most aphids tend to match host plant coloration. Aphids feed in colonies and are found on the new or most succulent plant tissues. Feeding damage to shrubs is usually minor but can compromise the vigor of the host. When aphid populations are high, leaf and shoot distortion can occur. Aphids produce honeydew, a sweet, sticky secretion that collects on underlying plant tissues and encourages growth of a black sooty mold. Some aphids are vectors of plant diseases, particularly viruses.
For biology, life history, monitoring and management
See "Aphid" in:
Management-chemical control
See Table 1 in: