Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1841
oleander aphid, milkweed aphid
on Apocynaceae
Asclepias syriaca, Hungary, Budapest, 31.vii.2020 © László Érsek
preference for a place near the midrib
heavy occipation
aptera
Nerium oleander, Hungary, Budapest, 11.vi.2021 © László Érsek
aptera
alate larve
alate
Nerium oleander, France, Corsica, Belgodère, plage de Lozari © Stéphane Claerebout
lateral view
gall
aphids in large dense groups on the young shoots and along the midrib of the leaves. Aphids 2-3 mm, bright lemon yellow with dark antennae and feet, and black siphunculi and cauda.
hostplants
Apocynaceae, oligophagous
Asclepias curassavica, physocarpus, syriaca, tuberosa; Calotropis procera; Cynanchum acutum; Gomphocarpus fruticosus; Hoya carnosa; Marsdenia floribunda; Nerium oleander; Vinca; Vincetoxum.
Sometimes on representatives of other families Convolvulus arvensis.
In the Mediterranean region very common on oleander.
synonyms
Cerosipha, Myzus, nerii.
notes
Asclepiadaceae contain many toxic compounds, and part of them are ingested by the aphids (Rothschild ao). The strikingly bright colouration of the aphids therefore is interpreted as aposematic (Malcolm).
references
Barbagallo, Binazzi, Pennacchio & Pollini (2011a), Barbagallo & Massimino Cocuzza (2014a), Benia & Pujade-Villar (2014a), Blackman & Eastop (2014), Börner & Heinze (1957a), Cogolludo (1921a), González Funes & Michelena Saval (1988b), Hellrigl (2004a), Houard (1909a), Łabanowski (0000a), Lampel & Meier (2007a), Malcolm (1986a), McAuslane (2014a), Mifsud, Mangion, Azzopardi ao (2011a), Nieto Nafría, Carnero Hernández & Mier Durante (1977a),, Nieto Nafría, Mier Durante, García Prieto & Pérez Hidalgo (2005a), Petrović (1998a), Piron (2009a, 2017a), Ripka, Reider & Szalay-Marzsó (1998a), Rothschild, van Euw & Reichstein (1970a), Seco & Mier (1986a), Suay Cano & González Funes (1998a), Tomasi (2012a, 2014a).