Woolly Aphid (Wax secretion)

Natural Habitat

Found on various host trees and shrubs, including apple, elm, ash, and hawthorn. They often congregate on branches, twigs, and sometimes roots.

Diet & Feeding

Plant sap (phloem). They use their needle-like mouthparts to pierce plant tissue and suck out the juices.

Behavior Patterns

These insects are best known for producing white, fluffy, waxy filaments from glands in their abdomen, which they use to cover themselves for protection. This gives them the appearance of cotton or wool. They live in colonies and are often seen covering branches in white clumps.

Risks & Benefits

Risk: They are agricultural and garden pests that can stunt plant growth, cause leaves to curl or yellow, and create galls (swellings) on bark. Their honeydew secretion fosters sooty mold growth. Benefit: They serve as a food source for predators like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps.

Identified on: 2/22/2026