Other aphids are similar in appearance to Aphis gossypii (Glover), the melon or cotton aphid. One other species commonly encountered is A. spiraecola Patch, the spirea aphid.

In A. gossypii (bottom) the cauda is pale to dusky and has two or three pairs of setae, in A. spiraecola (top) the cauda is dark brown to black and has five or six pairs of setae.