Aphis nerii is an aphid of the family Aphididae.[2] Its common names include oleander aphid, milkweed aphid,[3] sweet pepper aphid,[4] and nerium aphid.[5]
Aphis nerii | |
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A colony of Aphis nerii | |
An individual Aphis nerii | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Sternorrhyncha |
Family: | Aphididae |
Genus: | Aphis |
Species: |
A. nerii
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Binomial name | |
Aphis nerii Fonscolombe, 1841[1] | |
Synonyms | |
Aphis lutescens Monell, 1879 |
The oleander aphid is widespread in regions with tropical and Mediterranean climates.[6][7]InPoland, oleander aphid has only been reported from a glasshouse.[8] Small populations of oleander aphid are present in gardensinLondon, England.[9]
Female aphids lay live young (nymphs), a process known as viviparity.[6] Female aphids reproduce by parthenogenesis, males have never been observed in the wild but have been produced under laboratory conditions.[10] Females may be wingless or winged (alate), the production of the alate form occurs a higher rate in those regions where it is necessary for oleander aphid to migrate each year on to temporary hosts.[11]
Oleander aphid has a wide range of hosts, but mainly feeds on plants in the dogbane family, including milkweeds, oleander and periwinkle.[9] It is occasionally recorded feeding on plants in the bindweed family, daisy family and spurge family as well as rarely being recorded on Citrus.[12]
Oleander aphid can act as a vectorofviruses in the genus Potyvirus and Cucumovirus. The following viruses are known to be vectored by oleander aphid: