Pest Profile

The Russian wheat aphid (RWA) has a lime-green, football-shaped body with short antennae and short cornicles. The double-tail structure at the tip of the abdomen is characteristic of RWA. This aphid can be found in rolled leaves that are often streaked with purple and white lines. RWA can cause stunting of plants early in spring. As the infested plant grows, leaves may be seen with white and purpling streaking along with leaves that are rolled inward. RWA feeding often traps emerging heads, making them appeared hooked.