Woolly apple aphid occurs commonly on apples throughout New Zealand. It originates from eastern North America. It was recorded here as early as 1862 and probably arrived on infected apple trees. There were early reports of severe infestations but these were reduced following the introduction of the woolly apple aphid parasite, Aphelinus mali, beginning in 1921.

Woolly apple aphid is now a cosmopolitan pest of pipfruit in most parts of the world.