Oleander Aphid
Aphis nerii
These aphids are almost entirely parthenogenetic, meaning colonies consist of cloning females that give birth to live, pregnant daughters without needing to mate.
- Scientific name
- Aphis nerii
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Hemiptera › Aphididae › Aphis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- urban
- Habitat
- Urban gardens, parks, roadsides, and agricultural areas hosting milkweed or oleander
- Diet
- Phloem sap from plants in the Apocynaceae family (oleander, milkweeds, and dogbanes)
- Range
- North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa
- Size
- 1.5 to 2.6 mm in length
- Lifespan
- 20 to 30 days
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Ladybug beetles, lacewings, hoverfly larvae, parasitic wasps, and chemical insecticides
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting. However, they accumulate toxic cardenolides from their host plants, making them poisonous if ingested. Avoid touching eyes after handling, and keep pets from eating infested plants. Wash skin with soap and water if contact occurs.
Aphis nerii is an aphid of the family Aphididae . Its common names include oleander aphid , milkweed aphid , sweet pepper aphid , and nerium aphid .
Photo: Franz Anthony, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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