Often these leaves may be severely wrinkled or curled to form a cup shape. Leaves may dry and drop prematurely. The melon aphid also transmits at least 50 viruses of beans, peas, crucifers, celery, yardlong beans, cucurbits, papaya, and sweet potato. On taro it transmits dasheen mosaic virus which causes a mosaic symptom on the leaf but does not appreciably reduce yield. On papaya it transmit ringspot virus which causes the young leaves to be severely stunted and chlorotic.
Older leaves have yellow or tan rings.
Generally, if large populations develop, coccinellid beetles, parastic wasps, lacewings and syrphids clean up the infestation fairly rapidly. If virus is present or aphids are damaging, the aphid can be controlled with diazinon, carbaryl, dimethoate or acephate. Do not grow papaya and cucurbits in close proximity as cucurbits are a reservoir for ringspot virus. For cucurbits and papaya, immediately remove and destroy any plants infected with virus to keep the aphid from moving the virus to healthy plants. For further advice on insecticides consult an agricultural extension agent at your land grant institution.