Aphids often congregate on new tissue and can be found deep within the plant near the growth whorl. Damaged plants will often curl, wilt, and may die during periods of weather extremes. Plants infested with BYD will appear stunted and yellowish-purple in color and are subject to environmental stress. Aphid feeding and disease damage can significantly reduce yields. The most significant yield reductions occur when aphid infections develop in the fall on winter grains.
Overwintering progeny are all females that give birth to living young.
This first spring progeny are all wingless females that also produce live progeny without mating. The summer generation is winged and may develop on corn, other grain or volunteer grasses. Winged male adults appear in the fall and mate with over-summered females. Each female aphid lays only about 8 eggs. It is believed as many as 17 generations may develop in a year.