'aphid-targeted' originates from Modern English compounding of the noun 'aphid' (from New Latin/Greek) and the past-participle/adjective 'targeted' (from 'target'). 'aphid' comes via New Latin from Greek 'aphis' meaning 'plant louse'; 'target' comes from Old French 'targe'/'targette' meaning 'small shield' (later 'aim').

'aphid-targeted' was formed in late Modern English by combining 'aphid' (from Greek 'aphis' via New Latin) with the past participle 'targeted' (from English verb 'target', inherited via Old French). The components separately evolved — 'aphid' from Greek 'aphis' and 'target' from Old French — and were joined in contemporary English to make the compound adjective.

Originally 'target' (Old French) referred to a 'small shield' and later came to mean an 'object of aim or attack'; over time 'targeted' came to mean 'directed at' or 'intended for' and is now used in compounds like 'aphid-targeted' to indicate specific targeting.