'aphid-related' is a compound of the noun 'aphid' and the past-participle adjective 'related'. 'aphid' ultimately originates from New Latin 'Aphidoidea', ultimately from Greek 'aphis' where 'aphis' meant 'aphid'. 'related' originates from Latin 'relatus', the past participle of 'referre' ('re-' + 'ferre'), where 'referre' meant 'to carry back / bring back'.

'aphid' entered scientific Latin as 'Aphidoidea' from Greek 'aphis' and was adopted into English as 'aphid' in modern usage; 'related' comes from Latin 'relatus' which passed into Old French/Anglo‑Norman and Middle English as forms of 'relate', eventually yielding the modern adjective 'related'.

The compound itself is a modern English formation combining two existing words; its meaning — 'having a connection to aphids' — is literal and has not undergone significant semantic change since formation.