Green Peach Aphid

Common: Green Peach Aphid

Scientific: Myzus persicae

Crop Hosts: Stone fruit, potatoes, sugarbeets, garden and flowering plants.

Identification and Life Cycle: This aphid overwinters as eggs, and in the spring about the time of peach blossoming they hatch to form young, pale yellowish-green aphids. On becoming full-grown they begin giving birth to living young. There can be 2 to 3 generations on the peach. The adults acquire wings and migrate to garden plants in the late spring. With cold weather, the females fly to the peach, where they give birth to true sexual females. These mate with males that fly over from summer host plants and lay the overwintering eggs.

Geographical Distribution: Widely distributed throughout United States.

Damage and Treatment: The aphids suck the sap from new fruits and twigs of peach and a number of other trees and herbaceous plants. Vigor of the tree and production are adversely effected.

Treatment should be made when insect populations and/or damage levels reach economic thresholds. Refer to local University Extension Pest Management Guidelines for specific state thresholds.