If you happen to notice a fuzzy white coating on your trees and plants every year, you may have a woolly aphid issue on your hands. While the insects aren't harmful to humans, they can be a nuisance to deal with. Asian woolly hackberry aphids, as they are technically called, usually appear in the Upper South region of the United States. They don't bite or sting, but as they feed on the sap of sugarberry and hackberry trees, they produce a sweet and sticky honeydew that falls on sidewalks, cars, and pretty much anything else within reach.
The sticky honeydew leads to "sooty mold" forming, which is essentially a type of fungi. And while there are no proven negative long-term effects, that doesn't mean the fluffy insects shouldn't be removed from your yard. Luckily, there are five effective ways experts recommend to get rid of woolly aphids in your outdoor space. You can even tackle them yourself without hiring a professional.
How to Get Rid of Woolly Aphids
Woolly aphids disappear in the winter, but that doesn't mean they're gone for good. They hide as eggs or sneak into the crevices of roots and tree bark, making their appearance again after winter is over. Below, see five ways pest control experts recommend getting rid of the fluffy insects.
1. Spray Them With Water
To get rid of fluffy aphids, experts suggest spraying them with water. A little bit of pressure from the hose can blast away aphids without stripping off foliage, advises horticulturist Amy Dismukes of the University of Tennessee.
2. Use Insecticidal Soap or Horticultural Oil
While spraying woolly aphids with water is the easiest fix since they can't climb back on, you may need to take further action if you're dealing with a large number of them. "If you have a lot of them, you can spray the fluffy spots with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, which you can purchase at a garden store," Dr. Tracy Ellis, an entomologist at FarmSense, says. She suggests doing so in the early morning or evening so the sun doesn't hurt the plant, and spraying again a week or two later.
Bonide Horticultural Oil or Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap are two products that can help keep things in check, according to the University of California's Statewide Pest Management Program.
3. Plant New Flowers and Pull Weeds
"Helpful bugs, like ladybugs and lacewings, eat woolly aphids, so plant lots of flowers and skip the strong bug sprays that would kill these helpers too," Dr. Ellis advises. Before you bring any new plants home, the entomologist recommends checking them for the white fluff and cutting off any branches that already have the bugs so they don't spread. Additionally, stay on top of weeds. "Pulling weeds and clearing out little shoots near the bottom of trees also takes away good hiding spots," Dr. Ellis says.
4. Maintain Healthy Plants
According to Dismukes, healthy plants are less prone to attack, so maintain your yard with appropriate soil moisture, undisturbed roots, and no fertilizers unless there's a nutrient deficiency.
5. Consider Applying an Insecticide Regularly
If woolly aphids return to your yard year after year, consider applying a systemic insecticide around tree trunks in late winter or early spring. Never apply insecticides while plants bloom, as they can harm the aphids' natural enemies and important pollinators.
Maria Sabella is a lifestyle writer with a passion for home and interiors — from paint colors and holiday decor to the latest design trends. Her work has appeared in outlets including Better Homes & Gardens, The Spruce, BuzzFeed and Bustle.
Katarina Avendaño (she/her) is the senior SEO editor for Good Housekeeping, where she writes and edits lifestyle content and contributes to SEO strategy. Before joining GH in 2021, she was the digital editor at New York Family, where she was responsible for the website’s content and strategy. Katarina received her bachelor's degree in communications and Spanish from the University of Washington.
