What dual purpose does the white, waxy filament serve for woolly aphids?
Answer
Physical barrier against predators and shield from contact insecticides.
The thick, cottony armor created by the secreted waxy filament provides two crucial defensive functions. Primarily, it acts as a physical barrier that physically blocks natural enemies, such as predatory insects and parasitic wasps, from accessing the soft-bodied aphid underneath. Secondarily, and critically for management, this waxy coating effectively shields the insect population from the direct contact action of many commonly applied contact insecticides, rendering standard topical sprays inefficient against established colonies.
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