Aphids on Tomatoes: Species, Damage, and What Controls Work

Aphids on tomatoes are more complex than aphids on most other garden plants because several different species attack tomatoes, and one of them -- the green peach aphid -- is a significant vector of plant viruses. Understanding which aphid is present changes the appropriate management.

Aphids on tomatoes are more complex than aphids on most other garden plants because several different species attack tomatoes, and one of them — the green peach aphid — is a significant vector of plant viruses. Understanding which aphid is present changes the appropriate management response.

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Aphid Species on Tomatoes

Per UC IPM, several aphid species infest tomatoes in North American gardens:

**Potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae):** Green to pink; 1.8–3.5mm; most common tomato aphid in the Northeast. Feeds on stem tips and undersides of leaves. Minor virus vector compared to green peach aphid.

**Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae):** Small (1.2–2.1mm); pale green to yellow; highly mobile and winged forms spread rapidly. The most significant agricultural aphid because it vectors over 100 plant viruses, including Potato Virus Y (PVY), Tomato Mosaic Virus (ToMV), and Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV).

**Foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani):** Green with dark siphunculi; vectors several viruses; found on tomatoes in cooler seasons.

Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, correct species identification matters for determining virus transmission risk, though visual distinction requires careful observation.