
Community identification
Woolly Aphid
Eriosomatinae
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera, Family Aphididae
- Size
- 1 to 7 mm (including waxy filaments)
Natural Habitat
Found on various host plants, especially on underside of leaves, twigs, and bark of trees like alder, beech, apple, and elm
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they feed on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts
Behavior Patterns
They produce a white, waxy, cotton-like substance for protection and often move together in colonies; some species alternate between two different host plant types
Risks & Benefits
They are generally harmless to humans but can be a nuisance pest in gardens and agriculture by causing leaf curling, gall formation, and secreting sticky honeydew