'greenbug' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'green' and 'bug', where 'green' comes from Old English 'grēne' meaning 'green, young, fresh' and 'bug' comes from Middle English 'bugge' originally meaning 'goblin' and later 'insect'.

'greenbug' changed from the Middle English elements 'grene' and 'bugge' and eventually became the modern English compound 'greenbug'; as a common name it was later applied to specific aphid species (notably Schizaphis graminum) in agricultural literature.

Initially, the elements signified a 'green-colored creature' in a general sense; over time the compound came to be used more narrowly for particular green aphids that are crop pests.