Woolly Aphid

Natural Habitat

Found on various host plants including trees (apple, elm, beech, hawthorn) and shrubs. They often cluster on twigs, branches, or roots.

Diet & Feeding

Feed on plant sap (phloem) using piercing-sucking mouthparts, often causing leaf curling or galls.

Behavior Patterns

They produce a white, waxy, cotton-like filament covering for protection against predators and desiccation. They are slow-moving and often form dense colonies.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits: None significant to humans. Risks: Can be minor garden pests by weakening plants, causing unsightly galls, and producing sticky honeydew which can lead to sooty mold growth; generally harmless to humans.

Identified on: 1/5/2026