The potato aphid attacks over 200 plants including vegetable and ornamental crops as well as weeds. Ornamental hosts are aster, Easter lily, gladiolus, iris and rose. Weed hosts, such as lamb's quarters, pig weed, ragweed, and shepherd's-purse serve as important reservoir hosts for the species. It was first reported in Hawaii in 1910, and is now present on Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu.
Extensive damage can occur when aphid populations are large throughout the crop.
This rarely happens in Hawaii because of natural enemies and the use of insecticides. On broccoli, this pest is usually present on the youngest and oldest leaves that have higher concentrations of nitrogen containing compounds. Aphids vector plant viruses, and this activity potentially can result in greater losses than direct feeding damage. The potato aphid vectors over 40 non-persistent viruses and 5 persistent viruses. PRSV-P manifests on papaya.