Because the adult female is able to overwinter, those areas where females are present in the fall are more susceptible to early spring damage because infestations begin earlier and at a higher level. The overwintering conditions the RWA tolerates are not known. The RWA can overwinter in Nebraska in certain situations, but the extent of the overwintering may vary considerably from year to year. Aphid development is determined by temperature. An individual female may produce up to four nymphs per day.
Warmer temperatures speed development and reproduction, but shorten the adult life span.
Conversely, cooler temperatures, down to about 40 o F, slow development and reproduction, but lengthen the life span. Temperatures below 40 o F nearly stop reproduction and development. A major factor in the severity of the RWA as a pest in Nebraska is the insect's ability to migrate. Two types of adult aphids wingless and winged are found in many RWA colonies. With many species of aphids, winged forms often are produced when the quality of the host plant declines.