Eriosomatinae

Taxobox
name = Woolly aphids

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Woolly aphid on new growth of blackberry (red objects are mites)"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Homoptera
subordo = Sternorrhyncha
superfamilia = Aphidoidea
familia = Eriosomatidae
subfamilia = Eriosomatinae

Woolly aphids (subfamily: Eriosomatinae) are sucking insects that live on plant fluids, and produces a filamentous waxy white covering which resembles cotton or wool. The adults are winged and move to new locations where they lay egg masses. The larvae often form large cottony masses on twigs, probably for protection from predators.

Due to their appearance, they are occasionally given the nickname "Fairy Flies."

The woolly apple aphid is a pest for fruit growers. Many of the numerous species of woolly aphids have only one host plant species, or alternating generations on two specific hosts.

Diet

Woolly aphids feed by inserting their needle-like mouthparts into plant tissue to withdraw sap. They are able to feed on leaves, buds, bark, and even the roots of the plant. As a result of feeding on the sap, woolly aphids produce a sticky substance known as honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold on the plant.

=Botanical Da

While wooly aphids generally aren't much cause for alarm, they can cause rather unsightly damage to plants, which is particularly a problem for growers of ornamentals. Symptoms of feeding include twisted and curled leaves, yellowed foliage, poor plant growth, low plant vigor, and branch dieback.

Further minor damage can be caused by the honeydew that woolly aphids secrete, which is difficult to remove. While the honeydew itself doesn't cause too much of a problem, the honeydew can cause sooty mold to grow, which can block some of the sunlight needed for photosynthesis.