The greenbug, a member of the aphid family, is a small yellowish green, sucking, soft-bodied pest. Adults have a faint dark stripe running down the center of the back. It is found individually or in colonies on the undersides of leaves. Initially it was a pest of small grains, but since 1968, it has been a major pest of sorghums. Winged Greenbugs on a Seedling Plant Damage caused Greenbugs can inflict economic damage to the sorghum plant any time from seedling through the heading stage.
Infestations usually begin on the lower leaves and progress upward.
Beginning signs of damage appear as small reddish spots on the upper leaf surface in response to the insects located on the underside. The reddened areas enlarge as greenbugs increase. Under severe pressure, small plants may die. Larger plants usually survive, but grain yield is often affected. Mature females typically produce two to three offspring per day over the course of 7 to 15 days.