Females give birth to live female nymphs. As a consequence of this type of reproduction, populations are composed solely of females and there are no males present. In temperate regions, these aphids overwinter during the egg stage. These eggs are pale green when first laid and turn shiny black in a few hours. In Hawaii, eggs are not produced by aphid females.
Eyes are distinctly red and they have long slender cornicles extending from the abdomen.
There are two color types, the pink form and the green form. Adults are usually without wings. Winged adults are developed in response to high population densities, decline of the host plant, and changes in environmental conditions. Winged individuals may be of either color form. Each unmated female may give birth to 50 or more active nymphs within 2 weeks.