The Idaho suction trap survey system for winged aphids has been in operation for 10 seasons. Data indicate that trap collections reflect aphid flight activity within a 30 km radius of the traps. Suction trap survey data can be used for crop protection forecasting because trap collections provide information about local aphid populations. Data collected during five seasons (1988–1991, 1994) indicate that Russian wheat aphid populations in local fields correlate well with suction trap collections. Moreover, Russian wheat aphids are collected in suction traps before economically significant populations develop in local fields of spring sown cereal crops.