SUMMARYSome preliminary associations are reported between monthly totals of cereal aphids (Metopolophium dirhodum, Rhopalosiphum insertum, R. padiandSitobion avenae) caught in suction traps and weather data. Catches at 1.2 and 12.2 m during the summer and autumn flight peaks from 1969 to 1979 were compared with combinations of prior monthly totals of rainfall and accumulated day‐degree temperatures. The best models fitting these results are reported and proposed for testing against future data. The possible relevance of these models, for forecasting whether measures for the control of barley yellow dwarf virus in autumn‐sown cereals are necessary in any year, are discus