Woolly Aphid

Found on various plants, particularly trees like ash, apple, and beech

Plant sap (phloem), which they extract using specialized mouthparts

They secrete white, waxy strands that resemble cotton or wool for protection; often found in large colonies and undergo complex life cycles involving secondary hosts

Harmless to humans; can cause damage to agriculture and ornamental plants by causing wilting, yellowing, or galls, but they also serve as a food source for beneficial insects like lacewings