Green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is an important agricultural pest, with ~1000 host species and ability to transmit over 100 plant viruses. In Minnesota, green peach aphid does not overwinter but arrives in spring on low-level jet streams from the south. After spring migrants arrive, reproduction occurs on numerous weedy species before movement to potato. We have observed early season colonization of green peach aphid on winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L. Minnesota grows ~650,000 ha of wheat each year, thus this widely distributed host has potential to influence early season potato colonization. Life tables were constructed and intrinsic rates of increase (r_m) calculated for green peach aphid on winter wheat and potato. Single green peach aphid adult apterae were placed on individual host plants in growth chambers held at 20 ± 0.2°C, 50 ± 5% RH and a 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod. Adults were allowed to larviposit and then removed. Progeny remaining were tested for survivorship, mean generation time, net reproductive rate and finite rate of increase. In addition, electrical penetration graphs were used to record feeding behavior on host plants. Survivorship and mean generation time were not significantly different on the two hosts. When green peach aphid was reared on wheat and then transferred to wheat and potato, net reproductive rate and r_m on wheat was significantly reduced compared to potato (6.6 and 0.158, 12.2 and 0.218 respectively). When green peach aphid was reared on potato and then transferred to wheat and potato, net reproductive rate and rm were not significantly different. Feeding behaviors were not significant different on the two hosts. This suggests that green peach aphid can effectively utilize winter wheat as an early season host, with potential for rapid increase and subsequent colonization of other crops including potato.