Pest profile

Oleander Aphid

Aphis nerii · Hemiptera: Aphididae[2]

Bright yellow aphids crowding milkweed or oleander tips are oleander aphids; cultural control works best.[1]

Bright yellow oleander aphid with black legs and cornicles on a leaf
Bright yellow oleander aphid with black legs and cornicles on a leaf. (c) Franz Anthony, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

How to identify it

  • Wingless females are yellow with black cornicles, antennae, legs and tail; winged females are yellow and black with dark wing veins.[1]
  • All adults are female, and they give birth to live young.[1]

Look-alikes

Look-alikeHow to tell them apart
Other aphidsThe bright yellow body with black appendages is distinctive.[1]

Where it lives

It's found in tropical to warm temperate regions worldwide and probably originated in the Mediterranean.[1]

US map: public records from 47 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

Nymphs feed in colonies on shoot tips that can grow quite large, passing through five instars.[1]

Damage and signs

  • Colonies feed on tender shoots of oleander and related plants such as milkweed.[1]

Health risk

It feeds on plants; UF/IFAS mentions no risk to people.[1]

Control

Prevention

Reduce watering, pruning and fertilizing to limit tender shoots.[1]

Traps and physical control

On small milkweeds grown for monarchs, prune out infested shoots.[1]

Common questions

What are the yellow aphids on my milkweed?
Oleander aphids, which also infest oleander.[1]
Should I spray milkweed?
Prune out infested shoots instead, especially on plants grown for monarch butterflies.[1]

Sources

  1. University of Florida IFAS Extension (Featured Creatures), “Oleander Aphid, Aphis nerii (EENY-247).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN520 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. iNaturalist, “Aphis nerii taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/71154 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-14. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.