Woolly Aphid

Natural Habitat

Found globally on host plants such as apple, elm, hawthorn, and maple trees; often located on stems, twigs, and the undersides of leaves.

Diet & Feeding

Plant sap; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract fluids from the host plant's phloem.

Behavior Patterns

They secrete a white, waxy, filament-like substance from their bodies that resembles wool or cotton for protection against predators and desiccation. They are slow-moving and often form dense colonies. Their life cycle often involves alternating between two different host plant species.

Risks & Benefits

They are considered garden and agricultural pests as they can cause leaf curling, gall formation, and stunting of plant growth. They excrete 'honeydew' which can lead to sooty mold growth. They do not bite or pose a direct health risk to humans, and they serve as a food source for beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings.

Identified on: 1/10/2026