Potato Aphid and Virus Hotline Welcome to the Aphid Hotline on aphids affecting potatoes. I'm Keith Pike, Research Entomologist with Washington State University. The recent nighttime freezing temperatures that have ended the potato growing season, have also ended the season when aphids can cause damage to potatoes.
Potatoes are no longer suitable hosts for aphids.
But it is not longer a threat to this year s potato crop. The aphid is living on a variety of plant types other than potatoes that are still green in an array of different habitats. Some forms of the aphid are now moving to peach trees where eggs are being deposited on twigs and branches for the winter. Other forms of the green peach are continuing to feed and reproduce on winter annual weeds and perennials as temperatures permit. The adaptability and polyphagous nature of the green peach aphid guarantees its annual success.