# Oleander Aphid (*Aphis nerii*) The Oleander Aphid is a tiny insect that loves to munch on oleander plants. They are bright yellow and can be found in groups, making them easy to spot on the leaves. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 31 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Oleander Aphid](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aphid_May_2010-5.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aphid_May_2010-5.jpg) ## Appearance The Oleander Aphid is a strikingly bright yellow to orange insect, often with a slightly translucent body. It has distinctive black siphunculi (tailpipes) and black legs, antennae, and cornicles, which make it visually different from many green or brown aphids. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hemiptera - **Family:** Aphididae - **Genus:** Aphis ## Interesting facts - Ants often 'farm' them for their sweet honeydew, like tiny cows! - Some Oleander Aphids are born with wings to fly to new plants! - These tiny insects drink plant juice using a straw-like mouth! - They can clone themselves, creating identical babies without a partner! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Cloning:** Oleander Aphid can reproduce without a mate, which helps them create huge colonies very quickly. - **Toxic Shield:** Oleander Aphid can absorb plant toxins that helps them become poisonous to most predators. - **Sweet Secretions:** Oleander Aphid can secrete sugary honeydew that helps them attract ants for protection. - **Warning Colors:** Oleander Aphid has bright yellow skin that helps them warn predators they taste bad or are toxic. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 1.5-2.5 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-30 days - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 500 ## Diet & Feeding These tiny insects drink the sugary sap from the stems and leaves of plants. - **Primary Foods:** Nerium oleander, Asclepias curassavica, Vinca minor, Gomphocarpus physocarpus ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Harlequin Ladybird (*Harmonia axyridis*) — Adults and larvae prey on aphids. - **Eats:** Hoverfly Larva (*Syrphus ribesii*) — Larvae voraciously consume aphids. - **Symbiotic with:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — Ants protect aphids in exchange for honeydew. - **Parasitizes:** Parasitic Wasp (*Aphidius colemani*) — Lays eggs inside aphid, turning it into a mummy. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't touch or eat any bugs you find, and always wash your hands after exploring! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Oleander Aphid? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How big is Oleander Aphid? 1.5-2.5 mm ### How long does Oleander Aphid live? 15-30 days ### What does Oleander Aphid eat? These tiny insects drink the sugary sap from the stems and leaves of plants. ### Where is Oleander Aphid usually found? Urban areas ### How many legs does Oleander Aphid have? 6 ### How large are Oleander Aphid colonies? 500 ## Where to spot - [Columbia Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-canal) — South Carolina, US · Historic Site - [Eakin Community Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eakin-community-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Hakone Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hakone-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Jefferson District Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jefferson-district-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Little Italy](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/little-italy) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Parc Jean-Drapeau](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-jean-drapeau) — Quebec, CA · Park [View all places to see Oleander Aphid](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/oleander-aphid) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Oleander Aphid: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oleander-aphid)