# Cannabis aphid

> Phorodon cannabis, an aphid that feeds mainly on cannabis and hemp, colonising leaf undersides and buds and leaving honeydew and cast skins in flower.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cannabis-aphid.html
- Also written: hemp aphid, Phorodon cannabis, cannabis aphids
- Glossary category: Pests and diseases · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

The cannabis aphid (*Phorodon cannabis*) is an [aphid](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/aphid.md) that specialises on *[Cannabis sativa](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cannabis-sativa.md)*. Wingless forms are pale green to yellow, often with faint darker stripes, and about 1-2 mm long. It became a widespread [hemp](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/hemp.md) pest in North America after hemp production expanded in the late 2010s. Like other aphids it reproduces rapidly by live birth.

## In practice

Colonies form on leaf undersides and stems and, by late season, inside flowers. Damage is mostly contamination rather than yield loss: [honeydew](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/honeydew.md), [sooty mould](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/sooty-mould.md) and white cast skins stuck in buds make the crop look and test poorly. Outdoors it can overwinter as eggs on plant debris; indoors it rides in on clones. Scout leaf undersides weekly, and use [parasitic wasps](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/aphidius.md) (*Aphidius* species), lacewings and ladybirds as the backbone. Soap or oil sprays are for veg only. Check what is registered for cannabis locally.

## Don't confuse with

- **Green peach aphid**: a generalist with many hosts; [looks](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/bag-appeal.md) similar and needs a closer look at the head tubercles to tell apart.
- **Rice root aphid**: lives on roots, not foliage.
- **Thrips larvae**: slender and fast, with no cornicles.

## Related terms

[Aphid](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/aphid.md), [Root aphid](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/root-aphid.md), [Aphidius](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/aphidius.md), [Ladybird](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/ladybird.md), [Scouting](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/scouting.md)

## Read more

- [Aphids on cannabis: species, life tables, population growth and IPM](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/pests/aphids.md)

## Sources

1. NC State Extension. Cannabis Aphid in Industrial Hemp. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/cannabis-aphid-in-industrial-hemp
2. Utah State University Extension. Cannabis Aphids. https://extension.usu.edu/planthealth/ipm/notes_ag/hemp-cannabis-aphid.php