It is not considered an important pest on any of these crops. Its spring movement to the north seems to lag behind both the greenbug and the English grain aphid. It can be found on wheat late in the spring, and it moves to corn and sorghum after wheat heading. It generally feeds in the whorl of the plant, and numbers decline after heading or tassel emergence. Extremely heavy infestations on corn may foul the tassel with sticky honeydew and interfere with pollination.
Wingless aphids are olive green with a reddish-orange area at the base of the cornicles.
The tips of its legs, cornicles and antennae are black. The winged form of this aphid is also darker than the wingless form. This aphid occurs on several grasses, including wheat and certain wild grass species. Colonies are often found on underside of leaves or on leaf sheaths and heads. Its status as a pest is uncertain, but it seldom causes serious problems.