The green peach aphid plays a major role as a carrier of Sharka virus on plums: the virus causes changes to leaves, fruit and the stone, which can lead to yield losses of up to 100%. The green peach aphid is also an important virus vector in sugarbeet cultivation.
It overwinters mainly in the egg stage on stone fruits such as plum or peach. In mild winters or in very sheltered locations, the animals can also survive as female aphids. Milder winters result in more of these overwintering adults surviving, which may subsequently contribute to earlier virus spread.
