Which two primary plant families show a strong host preference for the Oleander aphid, Aphis nerii?
Answer
Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae
The host specificity of the Oleander aphid, *Aphis nerii*, is quite pronounced, leading to its highest population densities on plants belonging to particular botanical groups. This aphid exhibits a strong dietary preference for plants within the dogbane family, classified as Apocynaceae, and the closely related milkweed family, Asclepiadaceae. Because of this preference, common landscape hosts include the namesake *Nerium oleander* and various species of milkweed, such as butterfly weed. While *A. nerii* has been observed feeding on unrelated plants like citrus or members of the daisy family on rare occasions, its dominant feeding behavior is concentrated on these two primary host families.
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