Oleander Aphid vs Hump-backed Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Oleander Aphid | Hump-backed Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aphis nerii | Megaselia scalaris |
| Order | Hemiptera | Diptera |
| Family | Aphididae | Phoridae |
| Size | 1.5-2.5 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | Worldwide in tropical and warm temperate regions | Worldwide |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Oleander Aphid
A bright yellow aphid with black cornicles and legs that feeds on oleander, milkweed, and other plants containing toxic cardiac glycosides. It sequesters these toxins for its own defense.
Did You Know?
Its bright yellow color serves as aposematic warning coloration because it sequesters cardiac glycosides from its host plants, making it toxic to most predators.
Hump-backed Fly
A tiny scuttle fly with a distinctly humped thorax that breeds in an extraordinary range of organic matter. It is forensically important especially in enclosed burial sites.
Did You Know?
It can colonize buried or concealed bodies that are inaccessible to larger blow flies.