Control of aphids on oleander

Oleander aphids, also known as kapok aphids, belong to Homoptera and Aphididae. It is distributed all over southern China, as well as Southeast Asia, Africa and South America.

Harmful: nymph or aphid harmed oleander, inhibited the growth of new shoots, blackened upper and lower leaves, underdeveloped buds and flowers, and bloomed abnormally, affecting ornamental value.

Morphological features: wingless parthenogenetic aphids are oval, 2.3 mm long and yellow, such as banana peel. The frontal tumor is raised, higher than the middle frontal tumor; the antennae are dark, with coarse tile patterns; the beak reaches the middle foot ganglia. The ventral tube is long tube-shaped, dark, with tile lines and marginal processes; the tail is ligulate, contracted in the middle.

The winged parthenogenetic aphids are ovoid, head and chest are black, and the abdomen is light. There are stripes. The third segment of the antennae has 5-11 large secondary sensory circles, and the beak is as long as the hindfoot ganglion, which is normal. The ventral tube is long cylindrical, and other characteristics are similar to those of wingless parthenogenetic aphids.

Life history and habits: oleander aphids occur for many generations a year, overwintering with adult or nymph aphids in the axils of branches and leaves. The activity damage began at the end of April and the beginning of May, and the reproduction was the fastest and the occurrence was the most common from May to June. At the same time, many winged parthenogenetic overseas Chinese aphids migrated and spread. In the high temperature season in summer, the insect population density decreased obviously, and then increased from September to October, resulting in the second damage peak. After November, it gradually reduces the dispersion and concealment and begins to overwinter.

Oleander aphid is the main pest of oleander. Since May, new shoots are often clustered, not only neatly arranged, but also "consistent", that is, if there is a slight vibration on the branches of aphids, their abdomen swings 2-3 times, very neatly, almost without precedence, which is rare among aphids. The natural enemies of APHIS gossypii are ladybug, grass age, many kinds of aphid flies and aphid cocoon peaks.