Color attractions for Macrosiphon euphorbae were investigated by observing apterous aphids in an arena containing competitions between pairs of 16 distinct commercial paints. Relative attractiveness of these paints was found to be transitive in this population of aphids and attractiveness coefficients were assigned via a version of the Bradley–Terry model for paired comparisons. Reflected energy spectra, adjusted for illumination at the arena floor, were determined for the same paints. Alternative monostimulus, distimulus, and tristimulus explanations for relationships between attractiveness and spectral features were examined. The existence of two receptors in the visible spectrum, one sensitive to light at 590–595 nm and one at 425–460 nm, is inferred. A distimulus ratio of energies reflected at 595 nm and at 425 nm is found to be an effective predictor of attractiveness in this sample of paints.