Bug Identifier
Woolly Aphid
Community identification

Woolly Aphid

Eriosomatinae

Order & Family
Order Hemiptera, Family Aphididae
Size
1 to 7 mm (including waxy filaments)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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