Woolly aphids (subfamily: Eriosomatinae) are sap-sucking insects that produce 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 nymphs often form large cottony masses on twigs, for protection from predators.
Woolly aphids occur throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Many of the numerous species of woolly aphids have only one host plant species, or alternating generations on two specific hosts. They have been known to cause botanical damage and are often considered a pest. While most damage is minor, they can spread plant diseases and fungi. Some species can produce galls as well.[2]
In flight they have been described as looking like "flying mice." Other nicknames include "angel flies", “cotton fairies”, "fluff bugs", "fairy flies", "ash bugs", "snow bugs", "fluffer fairies", "poodle flies", “ghost bugs”, and "fluffy gnats".[citation needed]
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 damageedit
Woolly aphids generally are not much cause for alarm, although they can cause rather unsightly damage to plants, which is particularly a problem for growers of ornamental plants. Symptoms caused by their feeding on a plant include twisted and curled leaves, yellowed foliage, poor plant growth, low plant vigor, and branch dieback.[citation needed]
The woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum is a widespread pest of fruit trees, feeding principally on apple, but also, pears, hawthorn, ash, alders, elms and oaks.[1] Gall making species include Melaphis rhois andPemphigus spp.
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.[citation needed]
Woolly aphids and other sucking insects are often vectors of transmission for powdery mildew (a white fungus which grows on above ground parts of some plants), and other infectious diseases. Typically wooly aphids in subtemperate climates precede and are an indicator of various plant infections, including powdery mildew. Aphids penetrate plant surfaces where they often reside and provide a host of potential inoculants through physical, digestive or fecalsecretions. Aphids are often an indicator of other potential plant problems.[citation needed]
^Aphid Species File Version 5.0 (2014). "Eriosomatinae". Retrieved September 17, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Costa, James T. (2006-09-30). The Other Insect Societies. Harvard University Press. p. 221. ISBN978-0-674-02163-1.
^Favret et al. (2008) Transactions of the American Entomological Society 134 (3 & 4):275-282
^Colin Favret & David C. Eades (2011). "Taxa display: family Aphididae Latreille". aphid.speciesfile.org. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
^E.L. Maw, Checklist of the hemiptera of Canada and Alaska (2000).[page needed]
^Colin Favret & David C. Eades (2011). "Aphid Species File homepage". aphid.speciesfile.org. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
December 08, 2023
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Woolly aphids subfamily Eriosomatinae are sap sucking insects that produce 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 nymphs often form large cottony masses on twigs for protection from predators Woolly aphidsWoolly aphid on jasmine leafScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder HemipteraSuborder SternorrhynchaFamily AphididaeSubfamily EriosomatinaeTribes 1 Eriosomatini Fordini PemphiginiWoolly aphids on crab apple bark Pemphigus gall on cottonwood treeGrylloprociphilus imbricator on FagusGalls made by Melaphis rhoisWoolly aphids occur throughout the Northern Hemisphere Many of the numerous species of woolly aphids have only one host plant species or alternating generations on two specific hosts They have been known to cause botanical damage and are often considered a pest While most damage is minor they can spread plant diseases and fungi Some species can produce galls as well 2 In flight they have been described as looking like flying mice Other nicknames include angel flies cotton fairies fluff bugs fairy flies ash bugs snow bugs fluffer fairies poodle flies ghost bugs and fluffy gnats citation needed Contents 1 Diet 2 Botanical damage 3 Taxonomy 4 Tribes and genera 4 1 Tribe Eriosomatini 4 2 Tribe Fordini 4 3 Tribe Pemphigini 5 See also 6 ReferencesDiet editWoolly 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 damage editWoolly aphids generally are not much cause for alarm although they can cause rather unsightly damage to plants which is particularly a problem for growers of ornamental plants Symptoms caused by their feeding on a plant include twisted and curled leaves yellowed foliage poor plant growth low plant vigor and branch dieback citation needed The woolly apple aphid Eriosoma lanigerum is a widespread pest of fruit trees feeding principally on apple but also pears hawthorn ash alders elms and oaks 1 Gall making species include Melaphis rhois and Pemphigus spp 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 citation needed Woolly aphids and other sucking insects are often vectors of transmission for powdery mildew a white fungus which grows on above ground parts of some plants and other infectious diseases Typically wooly aphids in subtemperate climates precede and are an indicator of various plant infections including powdery mildew Aphids penetrate plant surfaces where they often reside and provide a host of potential inoculants through physical digestive or fecal secretions Aphids are often an indicator of other potential plant problems citation needed Taxonomy editThe subfamily Eriosomatinae has recently been placed within the family Aphididae 3 4 better source needed It was previously placed in family Pemphigidae Eriosomatidae 5 but that taxon is no longer valid 6 failed verification Tribes and genera editTribe Eriosomatini edit Americanum Aphidounguis Byrsocryptoides Colopha Colophina Eriosoma Gharesia Hemipodaphis Kaltenbachiella Paracolopha Schizoneurata Schizoneurella Siciunguis Tetraneura Zelkovaphis Tribe Fordini edit Aloephagus Aploneura Asiphonella Baizongia Chaetogeoica Dimelaphis Forda Geoica Geopemphigus Kaburagia Melaphis Nurudea Paracletus Rectinasus Schlechtendalia Slavum Smynthurodes Tramaforda Tribe Pemphigini edit Ceratopemphigiella Ceratopemphigus Clydesmithia Cornaphis Diprociphilus Epipemphigus Formosaphis Gootiella Grylloprociphilus Mimeuria Mordwilkoja Neopemphigus Neoprociphilus Pachypappa Pachypappella Patchiella Pemphigus Prociphilus Thecabius Tiliphagus UichancoellaSee also editMealybugReferences edit Aphid Species File Version 5 0 2014 Eriosomatinae Retrieved September 17 2014 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Costa James T 2006 09 30 The Other Insect Societies Harvard University Press p 221 ISBN 978 0 674 02163 1 Favret et al 2008 Transactions of the American Entomological Society 134 3 amp 4 275 282 Colin Favret amp David C Eades 2011 Taxa display family Aphididae Latreille aphid speciesfile org Retrieved October 19 2011 E L Maw Checklist of the hemiptera of Canada and Alaska 2000 page needed Colin Favret amp David C Eades 2011 Aphid Species File homepage aphid speciesfile org Retrieved October 19 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eriosomatinae amp oldid 1168442625, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
