They use piercing-sucking mouthparts to suck sap from the plant. Droplets of honeydew are expelled through the cornicles and deposited on leaves. Plant surfaces covered with honeydew may become moldy, giving the plants a black sooty appearance. Adults may or may not have wings. If wings are present they are clear, contain few veins, and are held roof-like over the body.
Young aphids look just like adults except they are smaller.
What is known is that the winged form of this aphid moves up from southern states each spring. In the spring, they move to weedy hosts such as johnsongrass, crabgrass and barnyard grass. Females give birth to live young and multiply rapidly. While most remain wingless when becoming adults, some develop wings at maturity. Winged individuals fly off and establish new colonies while the wingless individuals walk short distances and establish new colonies or remain in the parent colony.