Woolly Aphid

Natural Habitat

Found on various host plants including ash, elm, apple, and beech trees in gardens, forests, and orchards.

Diet & Feeding

They feed on plant sap by piercing stems, leaves, or roots with needle-like mouthparts.

Behavior Patterns

They produce a waxy, white, cotton-like substance for protection against predators and moisture loss. Some species alternate between different host plants during their life cycle.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans. They can cause aesthetic damage to plants, leaf curling, or galls, and produce sticky honeydew that promotes sooty mold growth; however, they serve as a food source for beneficial insects like lacewings and ladybugs.

Identified on: 1/4/2026