Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 2072196

Oleander Aphid

Aphis nerii

Also known as Milkweed Aphid, Nerium Aphid, Sweet Pepper Aphid

Bright golden-yellow with contrasting jet-black appendages, oleander aphids cluster densely along the tender stems, buds, and seed pods of milkweeds and dogbanes. Populations consist almost entirely of parthenogenetic females that give birth directly to live nymphs, allowing colonies to multiply exponentially without mating. While feeding, they sequester bitter cardiac glycosides from their toxic host plants, making both the aphids and their sweet honeydew unpalatable to many generalist predators.

HerbivorousParthenogeneticAposematic
Oleander Aphid reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Franz Anthony, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Franz Anthony · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Asclepias sap
  • Nerium oleander sap
  • Cynanchum sap
Predators
  • Convergent Lady Beetle
  • Hoverfly Larva
  • Lacewing Larva
ThreatsSevere cold temperatures, chemical pesticides, and parasitoid wasps
HabitatsGardens, meadows, roadsides, disturbed areas, and citrus groves
Life span3–5 weeks
Classification
  1. OrderHemiptera
  2. FamilyAphididae
  3. GenusAphis
  4. SpeciesAphis nerii
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Harmless to humans; safe to observe at a close distance.
Responsible observation
  • Examine host plants: Look under young leaves and around fresh flower buds on milkweed and oleander.
  • Spot ladybug larvae: Search nearby foliage for alligator-shaped ladybug larvae actively hunting the colony.
  • Gentle water spray: Use a light blast from a garden hose to dislodge heavy infestations without harming plants.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…