The first spring adults are winged females which fly in search of suitable host plants, sometimes migrating far northward. Shortly thereafter, they give birth to live nymphs which usually develop into wingless females. Under favorable conditions, more winged females develop and migrate. Males are rarely found but females continue to reproduce without mating. No egg stage is known.
Reproduction slows down in winter and summer and is most rapid during cool weather.
Therefore, corn leaf aphids tend to be a problem on winter grains in spring and on late-planted corn in fall. The number of generations per year varies from 9 in Illinois to 50 in southern Texas. This insect rarely requires control in North Carolina on sorghum or corn. In the northern states control is usually unnecessary because populations build up so late in the season. During summers in the southern and southwestern states, however, the corn leaf aphid is controlled both by extreme heat and by the insect's natural enemies.