Black sooty mold grows on the honeydew and, though not directly harming the plant, may block out sufficient light to reduce yield. The green peach aphid transmits several viral diseases including several important mosaic viruses on squash and other cucurbits. Winged forms migrate to other hosts in late spring. In Georgia, the aphids are nearly all females. Successive generations of females, mainly wingless, are produced throughout the year.
Winged migrants develop whenever overcrowding occurs or food becomes scarce.
Many generations may occur per year. In many crops, natural controls often can regulate the population below economic impact thresholds. Many predators, fungus diseases, high temperatures, hard rains and damp weather reduce aphid populations. Insecticides are the second choice for controlling aphids. Oil sprays are used to prevent the spread of virus diseases in squash.