1 Cereals can be attacked severely by the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.), and the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.). The time of migration from winter hosts in spring is important regarding input to decision support systems concerning insecticide treatment of aphids. 2 The present study aimed to construct two separate migration models, which could be used immediately for advisors and farmers but also be part of a decision support system for the chemical control of aphids in winter wheat and spring barley. 3 Winter wheat ( Triticum sativum Lam.) and spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) fields were monitored from 1991 -2005 for the occurrence of grain aphids and bird cherry-oat aphids, and the data were used to construct migration models. 4 The models were constructed based on all 9 years data and subsequently validated by using all 9 years data, excluding 1 year at a time. 5 The migration model for the grain aphid producing the best forecast was obtained with migration date M (number of days from 1 June), degree-days ( DD ) of April ( T a ) and DD of May ( T m ), with the model being M = 265.0 -10.2 log e ( T a ) -35.1 log e ( T m ). 6 The migration model for the bird cherry-oat aphid producing the best forecast was obtained with migration date M (number of days from 15 May), DD of April ( T a ) and DD from 1 -15 May ( T m1 ), with the model being M = 294.4 -34.7 log e ( T a ) -22.5 log e ( T m1 ). 7 The models only worked well in areas where the grain aphid and the bird cherryoat aphid are entirely holocyclic.