Woolly Aphid

Natural Habitat

Typically found on host plants such as apples, ash trees, elms, and hawthorns, often in crevices of bark or on the undersides of leaves.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant juices (phloem) from leaves, buds, bark, and roots.

Behavior Patterns

They produce a white, waxy, cotton-like substance for protection against predators and moisture loss. They often congregate in large colonies and have complex life cycles involving both sexual and asexual reproduction, sometimes migrating between different host plant species.

Risks & Benefits

They are considered plant pests as heavy infestations can cause leaf curling, yellowing, stunted growth, and the formation of galls. They also excrete honeydew which can lead to sooty mold. They do not pose a direct physical risk to humans or pets.

Identified on: 5/22/2026