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Spirea Aphid

Aphis spiraecola[3]

The spirea aphid is a small green aphid that feeds on new shoots of spirea, apple, crabapple, pear, quince and hawthorn.[1][2]

Group
Insect
Order
Hemiptera
Family
Aphididae
US records
25 states
Sources
3 cited
Updated
2026-10-17
Green spirea aphid on a white surface
Green spirea aphid on a white surface. Photo: Lucas Rodrigues, public domain (CC0), via iNaturalist
On this page
  1. Identification
  2. Look-alikes
  3. Where it lives
  4. Biology
  5. Damage and signs
  6. Health risk
  7. Control
  8. Related profiles
  9. Common questions
  10. Sources

How to identify it

  • Wingless aphids are about 1/12 inch long with green bodies and pale brown heads; winged forms have clear wings.[1]
  • It looks and behaves like the green apple aphid, and the two are managed the same way.[1]

Look-alikes

Look-alikeHow to tell them apart
Green apple aphidNearly identical in looks and habits; NC State manages both the same way.[1]
Rosy apple aphidUnlike rosy apple aphids, which move to plantain for part of the year, spirea and green apple aphids stay on apple.[1]

Where it lives

Widely distributed; very common in North Carolina, and active in May in Maryland.[1][2]

US map: public records from 25 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

It overwinters as glossy black eggs on rough bark of the previous year's growth, and spring stem mothers give birth to live young without mating.[1]

Winged forms appear later and spread to other host plants.[1]

In Maryland, predators and parasites often collapse populations by June.[2]

Damage and signs

  • Aphids suck sap from the newest leaves and shoots, curling and discoloring them, and heavy feeding can slow young trees.[1]
  • Honeydew they excrete grows sooty mold on leaves and fruit.[1][2]

Health risk

None to people or pets.[1][2]

Control

Biological control

Lady beetles, syrphid fly larvae and lacewing larvae usually keep populations below damaging levels.[1][2]

Pesticides

If you must treat, choose something with low impact on beneficial insects, such as neem oil or horticultural oil.[2]

Common questions

What are the green bugs covering my spirea tips?
Often spirea aphids, which crowd new growth in spring.[1][2]
Do I need to spray?
Usually not; predators often wipe out spirea aphids by June.[2]

Sources

  1. NC State Extension, “Green Apple Aphid and Spirea Aphid (PDIC Factsheet).” content.ces.ncsu.edu/green-apple-aphid-spirea-aphid (accessed 2026-10-16)
  2. University of Maryland Extension (Home and Garden Information Center), “Spirea Aphids.” extension.umd.edu/resource/spirea-aphids (accessed 2026-10-16)
  3. iNaturalist, “Aphis spiraecola taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/330185 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-17. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.