Woolly Aphid

Natural Habitat

Orchards, forests, gardens, and urban landscapes where host plants (like apples, elms, or alders) are present.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap from leaves, stems, or roots.

Behavior Patterns

They produce a white, waxy, cotton-like substance for protection against predators and desiccation. They often aggregate in dense colonies and have complex life cycles involving different host plants.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans but can be a plant pest, causing leaf curling, gall formation, or stunted growth; they produce honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold growth.

Identified on: 5/18/2026