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If you are in Southeastern US Right now, you may have noticed flocks of fuzzy, white specks sticking to your car’s windshield or covering nearby trees.
While specks may look like dust, pollen or lint, they probably aren’t. Chances are, they’re actually tiny insects called woolly aphids. Whereas insect While they may not harm humans, they are definitely a nuisance to people and plants.
Some? Types of woolly aphids are also invasive Experts say that could cause long-term stress to plants.
Here’s what you need to know about these fuzzy creatures:
What are Woolly Aphids?
Woolly aphids are tiny insects covered in a white, fuzzy-looking wax. They feed on leaves and excrete “copious amounts of honeydew,” which can, in turn, cause black sooty mold to accumulate, according to Protect Tennessee ForestsA program associated with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
There are many types of woolly aphids, and some are even invasive, said Midhula Geresh, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee. Chattanooga Times Free Press,
“Woolly aphid is a common name for several species, and their impact and invasiveness depend on the specific species,” said Jiresh. “For example, the woolly apple aphid is native to eastern North America, but the woolly hackberry aphid is an introduced species originally from Asia.”
If you’re in Tennessee or Alabama, you may be especially looking for woolly hackberry aphids. Other types of woolly aphids include woolly elm aphid, woolly alder aphid and beech blight aphid, according to University of Maryland.
Why are there so many woolly aphids in the Southeast right now?
Jason Oliver, a research professor at Tennessee State University, told the local outlet Strange That woolly aphids are thriving right now as the region is going through a long period of warm weather. This means insects can reproduce for longer periods of time.
The number of woolly aphids will decrease as temperatures drop in the coming months.
Are Woolly Aphids Dangerous to People or Pets?
No, woolly aphids are not dangerous to people or pets. They do not bite or sting, and they do not infest homes, montgomery advertiser Report.
However, pests can be annoying, as they often stick to windshields and can leave behind mold on cars and other objects.
“Sooty mold also accumulates on the leaves of host trees, other small plants, as well as the leaves of vehicles and patio furniture that are located beneath infested trees,” Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Residents have taken to social media to complain about the pests.
“I thought it was snow when I looked out my windows,” one Facebook user commented Below a local news report about the incident.
“They’re a nuisance!” Another user wrote below a post Protect Tennessee Forests,
Do woolly aphids harm the ecosystem?
Oliver told WKRN that woolly hackberry aphids, which like to hang out on hackberry trees, can cause stress to the plants over time.
“The adults feed on the sap in the leaves,” Oliver explained. “If you hit a branch with a stick, you will see a cloud fly out of them – that’s what they are fed with.”
Mold growing from the woolly aphid’s honeydew feces can also make trees look unsightly, Geresh said. Chattanooga Times Free Press.
“Woolly hackberry aphids are mostly nuisance pests and don’t necessarily kill the tree,” she said. “However, due to their excess honeydew production, sooty mold – a black, powdery fungus that grows on plants – accumulates, and the trees become unsightly.”
What can residents do to avoid pests?
While some insecticides are effective, this may not be an option for every resident affected by swarms.
According to the Tennessee Forest Preserve, residents can also reduce the growth of sooty mold by “removing personal property from infected trees or items to be cleaned from under infected trees.”