Fluffy White Insects
Posted by Alysn Ford on May 13, 2007
Q: Hello. Some time ago, while hiking in Westchester county in NY I came across a tree that had part of the trunk and a branch nearly covered in what appeared to be a white fuzz almost like a mold. However, when I got closer to inspect it all of the fuzz started to move together in a rythmic fashion, back and forth. The longer I stood there, the less movement it exhibted, unless I moved a hand near it, at which point it started to move rythmically again. It became obvious that it was some sort of grouping of insects, though it was difficult to identify a single bug out of the group. Do you have any idea what I saw?
Habitat: forest/open woods
State: New York
Habitat: forest/open woods
A: Sounds like you saw Woolly Aphids. There are many different kinds of these aphids and they can be found on a wide assortment of different kinds of plants - many trees. Take a look at this site and see if this is close to what you saw: www.uky.edu
This might be a different species, but similar.
John Wiessinger ( May 14, 2007)