Woolly Aphids That Won’t Dance

Woolly alder aphids (photo by Bob Lepak, Bugwood.org) 19 October 2026 Until the first killing frost woolly alder aphids (Prociphilus tessellatus) actively coat alder branches like fluffy white socks. I found some in late September 2020 but didn’t know what they were. This month a group of birders found them at Yellow Creek State Park and Ed Donley shared the bug’s identity with the group at Buckeye Yard & Garden Online: Woolly Alder Aphid. Named for their host tree, woolly alder aphids (Prociphilus tessellatus) are similar to beech blight aphids (Grylloprociphilus imbricator) — the ones that do the boogie-woogie. However, alder aphids don’t move when frightened. Instead they just stay in a tight cluster. The woolly protection comes from structures on the bugs’ backs that are arranged in a block pattern. You can see the pattern on these nymphs who haven’t fully exuded / unfurled the wool. Woolly alder aphid nymphs (photo by Bob Lepak, Bugwood.org) These aphids suck phloem sap from…