Sooty mold can reduce light penetration, subsequently reducing yield and quality. Winged forms migrate to other hosts in late spring. During these migratory flights, aphids may spread viral diseases from infected volunteer plants and weeds to healthy crops. 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, fungal diseases, high temperatures, hard rains and damp weather reduce aphid populations. Insecticides are the second choice for controlling aphids.