Oleander aphid

Aphis nerii Fonscolombe

(Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Adult aphids are all female and occur in winged and wingless forms. They are 1.5 to 2.6 mm long and bright yellow with dark legs, antennae, and cornicles (posterior abdominal appendages). Winged females can be dark brown. Nymphs resemble smaller versions of wingless adults.

Females are highly prolific and reproduce by viviparous parthenogenesis (giving birth to living offspring without mating). Nymphs feed gregariously and progress through five instars. The short life cycle allows for rapid population growth.

Likely originating from the Mediterranean, the cosmopolitan oleander aphid occurs in all tropical to warm temperate regions.

In Florida, common hosts include oleander, milkweeds and wax plants.

Images 

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Various instars of oleander aphid, Aphis nerii Fonscolombe

(Photographer: James Castner, University of Florida)

Oleander leaf with various instars of oleander aphid, Aphis nerii Fonscolombe

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Oleander infested by oleander aphid, Aphis nerii Fonscolombe

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)