woolly aphid

[ wool-ee ey-fid, af-id ]

noun

1. any plant louse of the family Aphididae, characterized by a waxy secretion that appears like a jumbled mass of fine, curly, white cottony or woolly threads, as Eriosoma lanigerum woolly apple aphid, or American blight and Prociphilus tessellatus woolly alder aphid.
2. any of various aphids that produce white waxy threads, as Adelges piceae balsam woolly aphid.

Word History and Origins

Origin of woolly aphid¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

His football meetings were broken up with talks about movies, woolly aphids, dangerous snakes and whatever else came to Leach’s mind.

From Seattle Times

Entomologist Ira Thompson at Oregon State University’s Extension Service says these are woolly aphids that take flight each fall in search of a place to lay their eggs.

From Seattle Times

The woolly aphids thus serve as the sole food of the caterpillar during its brief life as a larva.

From Project Gutenberg