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White substance on cottoneaster #877629

Asked July 17, 2024, 1:26 PM EDT

Can you help identify this white, fuzzy substance on my cottoneaster? It appears to eminate from the stem and move up. Also, any advice on how to treat this?

Muskegon County Michigan

Expert Response

Good Morning,
Looks like wooly aphids.
Many woolly aphids on aboveground plant parts can be killed by parasitoid (parasitic) wasps if broad-spectrum insecticide is not applied for any pests on its hosts. Parasitized aphids become crusty and puffy (mummies). After the adult wasp emerges, parasitism can be recognized by a rounded hole in the crusty, mummified aphid bodies. Larvae of aphid flies, larvae of green lacewings, adults and larvae of lady beetles (ladybugs) such as the multicolored Asian lady beetle, and various other predators also feed on woolly aphids infesting aboveground plant parts.  
Generally, no control of woolly aphids is needed to protect the survival of otherwise-healthy trees; apples can be an exception. Where intolerable, these aphids are difficult to manage without using systemic insecticide in part because the insects are protected beneath wax, within galled tissue, or underground on roots.

In Managing Woolly Aphids on Trees, Consider the Alternate Hosts (psu.edu)
Managing Pests in Gardens: Trees and Shrubs: Invertebrates: Woolly Aphids—UC IPM (ucanr.edu)
Aphids - Integrated Pest Management (msu.edu)

I hope this helps.  Thanks for using our service.
V/r, Replied July 28, 2024, 9:05 AM EDT
Thank you!


On Sun, Jul 28, 2024 at 9:05 AM, Ask Extension
The Question Asker Replied August 01, 2024, 5:32 PM EDT

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