Aphis nerii is an aphid of the family Aphididae.
Distribution
The oleander aphid is widespread in regions with
tropical and Mediterranean climates.
In
Poland, oleander aphid has only been reported from a
Greenhouse.
Small populations of oleander aphid are present in
gardens in
London, England.
Lifecycle
Female aphids lay live young (nymphs), a process known as
viviparity.
Female aphids reproduce by
parthenogenesis. Males have never been observed in the wild but have been produced under laboratory conditions.
Females may be
Aptery or winged (
alate), the production of the alate form occurs at a higher rate in regions where the aphid must migrate to temporary hosts each year.
Oleander aphid has a wide range of hosts, but mainly feeds on plants in the Apocynaceae, including Asclepias, Nerium oleander and Vinca.
Virus Vector
Oleander aphid can act as a vector of
plant virus in the
genus Potyvirus and
Cucumovirus. The following viruses are known to be vectored by oleander aphid:
-
Araujia mosaic virus
-
Bean yellow mosaic virus
-
Bittergourd mosaic virus
-
Citrus tristeza virus
-
Cucumber mosaic virus
-
Lentil mosaic virus
-
Papaya ringspot virus
-
Tobacco etch virus
-
Watermelon mosaic virus
-
Zucchini yellow mosaic virus
Photos and videos
File:Aphis-nerii.jpg|Colony on Nerium oleander
File:Aphis nerii on common milkweed.jpg|Colony on Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)
File:Aphis nerii colony.jpg|Colony on Asclepias curassavica
File:Aphis nerii colony on Asclepias oenotheroides.jpg|Colony on Asclepias oenotheroides
File: Aphis nerii on common milkweed 2.jpg|Colony on Asclepias syriaca inflorescence
File:Aphis nerii parasitized.jpg|Mummified aphids, parasitized by Aphidiinae wasp, probably Lysiphlebus
File:EPWaspAphids.webm|thumbtime=24|A European paper wasp preying on Aphis nerii which are on narrow leaf milkweed. Most scenes are repeated at one-fourth speed
File:Aphids producing honeydew.webm|thumbtime=56|Aphis nerii on narrow-leaf milkweed eliminating honeydew. Unlike some aphids, these kick the drop away with their leg
File:Aphid molting.webm|A Aphis nerii Ecdysis on narrow-leaf milkweed. Shown at ten times speed
File:Aphid defence.webm|thumbtime=3|A Aphis nerii on narrow-leaf milkweed is attacked by a hoverfly larvae. It thrashs and release and sticky wax from its . Nearby aphids flee. Video played at 4X speed
File:Parasitic wasp and aphid.webm|thumbtime=22|A Aphis nerii pushes the sticky wax drop from its cornicle against an attacking parasitic wasp, extruding another drop. Two scenes at one-tenth speed. A different aphid has captured a wasp
File:Winged aphids.webm|thumbtime=36|Winged adult (alate) Aphis nerii. Some scenes repeated at one-twentieth speed. Recorded at 60 fps
File:Hoverfly larvae.webm|thumbtime=51|Hoverfly larva on narrow-leaf milkweed with Aphis nerii, Coccinellidae eggs, and larva. After first minute, shown at four times speed. Larva recorded in early morning prior to sunrise
