There are three to three and a half generations per year in the mid-Atlantic area. The insects feed with piercing, sucking mouthparts, sucking plant juices from the feeding site. Adults become active in the spring as buds begin to swell. Overwintering adults primarily feed on weed hosts unless disturbed in the ground cover by mowing, discing or similar operations which force them to move into the tree canopy. In the orchard, they first feed on expanding buds, and to a minor degree on terminal shoots.
Adults continue to feed during bloom and after fruit set.
First brood nymphs are present from late April through mid June. First generation adults may be found in the orchard from late May through late June. With the exception of the overwintering adults, this is often the largest of the summer generations, and often causes the most damage as adults disperse from weed hosts to peach trees. Later generations may continue to disperse from weeds to fruit throughout the season. The insect feeds by piercing the plant and sucking out sap.