Loquat

In Sossano (Italy, Vicenza region), on the same heavily watered lawn as the Oleander (Nerium oleander), there was also a beautiful loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), whose tender leaves and young sprouts attracted many aphids...

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This little fruit tree (at least in this region) blossoms in autumn, produces fruits in winter, which are edible in spring, if the climate is mild enough. Anyway, this bush, on a heavily watered lawn, produced numerous young sprouts, infested with aphids.

When searching for aphids, look for ants...

A Data Sheet of the Purdue University states Aphis malvae, in fact Acyrthosiphon (Acyrthosiphon) malvae malvae (Mosley 1841) (geranium aphid) and Aphis pomi (green apple aphid) as aphids infesting this plant.

As we can't see black legs and cornicles, one can think that they are the first ones.
Anyway, classic predators were at work...

With probably a scale, on the left.

Likewise, on the right, an unknown egg on a leaf, by a probable predator.

Lady beetles were also at work. On the right, Chilocorus bipustulatus, and its very specific larva.

Those larvae are incredibly slick and fast. On the last picture, one can see larvae from several instars, whose waxy productions have different lengthes.
Also, an exuvia on the right.

Green Lacewing larvae were also at work...

As well as Syrphid larvae, with at least two different species. On the right, probably Paragus sp.

At this end of a little journey organized to visit the several visitors of the little loquat tree, one should also mention that the loquat leaves were also appreciated by some other guests, but only at night.
When the sun was shining, there were resting at the foot of this little bush...

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