Rosy apple aphid often isn't discovered, until the damage jumps out at you. Rosy apple aphid feeding often causes apple leaves to curl. This severe curling is a characteristic symptom and these leaves may later turn bright red. This damage is often described to me as peach leaf curl on apples. Untrimmed trees are favorable, as is skipping an early oil spray, since this aphid passes the winter as eggs on the tree.
Hatching occurs early in the spring, when the buds open.
The body of this aphid has a very waxy coating and a purplish or rosy tinge. Their feeding causes the leaves to curl, protecting the aphids from sprays and enemies. A single stem mother located on the underside of a leaf near the midrib will cause the leaf to fold tightly. Stem mothers are very inactive. They settle down, feed and produce young aphids at a rapid rate, which continues without interruption for more than a month.