INSECT ID · SUCKING PEST
Oleander aphids
Also called Oleander aphid, milkweed aphid, yellow aphids
Bright yellow aphids that pile up on oleander and milkweed. They look bad, but they usually do not hurt the plant's health.
How to spot it
- Bright yellow aphids with black legs and black tubes on the back end
- Clusters on new shoots, buds, and leaves
- Found only on oleander, butterfly weed, and milkweed
- Sticky leaves with black sooty mold
- Swollen, brown, dead aphids mixed in with the yellow ones
Why it shows up
They show up on new growth in spring, and big groups build over the summer. Their honeydew feeds sooty mold. A tiny parasitic wasp often goes after them. The hit aphids swell, turn brown, and die.
How we treat it
We will identify it on a visit and recommend the right fix. The wasps often keep numbers down, and the aphids rarely hurt the plant itself. A spray of water from the hose helps with the mess. If it keeps bugging you, we will talk through other options.
What you can do
- Rinse them off with a strong spray from the hose.
- Brown, swollen aphids have been hit by a wasp. Leave them alone.
- Growing milkweed for butterflies? Call us before you spray anything.
WANT IT HANDLED?
Let a licensed applicator take it from here.
Tell us about your lawn. We’ll get back to you with a free quote.
Prefer to talk? 817-382-1722Licensed applicator, Texas Department of Agriculture · License #0984138