Wingless adults are some shade of green, sometimes with a slight waxy covering, and grow to a length of about 2 mm (0.1 in).

The siphunculi (slender tubes on the fifth abdominal segment) are cylindrical, pale and slightly S-shaped, and are much longer than the cauda (tail-like protrusion).

[3] Elatobium abietinum is native to Northern, Central and Eastern Europe where its original host is Picea abies.

[3] Invertebrate predators of this aphid in Wales include brown lacewings (Hemerobiidae), soldier beetles (Malthodes and Rhagonycha, Cantharidae), ladybirds (Coccinellidae) and hoverfly larvae (Syrphidae).

The presence of the aphids weakens the tree by decreasing growth rates and making it more susceptible to attack by other pests such as the spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis).