I’ve tried photographing these guys in the yard a few times but they always seem to be in motion, floating around like so much airborne lint. Yesterday this one individual decided to loll about on one of our blueberry bushes in the woods out back.
Wooly Aphid-a member of the Aphid subfamily Eriosomatinae. Some of these create galls on various woody shrubs. They feed on sap from a variety of plants and exude a waxy coating which gives them this fuzzy appearance.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
This is a real special one…. never seen one like this before.
Thanks for sharing Steve.
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Thanks, Rudi. Well if someone could have a favorite aphid this would be mine. 🙂
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How cute it this?! Yesterday I watched a bit of cottonwood fluff floating on the breeze, but when I watched more closely it seemed to have agency in its movement, and I suspected it was one of these guys but my eyes could see only fluff.
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Usually that’s all I can see too but I’ve known about them so always check closer. On this occasion it paid off.
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Very Nice Steve! Never saw one of these!
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Thanks, Reed. Most people would figure it’s just some cottonwood seed or other airborne fluff.
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Terrific image, fine detail!
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Thanks, Belinda! These are more challenging than one might think.
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So that’s what those bits of flying fluff are… thanks for enlightening us, Steve!
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My pleasure, Eliza. 🙂 This is the best look I’ve had with one and was pretty happy to see those wings.
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Who knew lint could be so photogenic?
You, did, that’s who.
Fantastic photograph along with an education injection.
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Thanks, Wally! This is my first image of one so I was surprised at just how cool it looked. All other aphids I have seen were not as interesting.
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A sharp image of a fuzzy creature!
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Thanks, Peter. Better than a fuzzy concept.
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It looks like a ghost. Is that really its color or did you change it during photo editing?
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Yes, it is white like that. I did have to adjust the color a bit as the flash gave a blue tint to its tail fluff. Here’s a link to the BugGuide pages.
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Thank you for sharing the additional information, Steve, it’s fascinating. I guess I have never seen one of those aphids, unless I did and forgot. It’s special that you were able to get such a detailed close-up.
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What an amazing little creature. I’ve always thought of aphids as smooth and sleek, but this one fancied up quite a bit. Seeing it’s like expecting Donna Reed and getting Carmen Miranda.
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Donna Reed and Carmen Miranda…. That is a great line 👏👏👏
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I think that you just aged the majority of us with those two references. Most aphids are not attractive and not welcome either. But who cannot enjoy this little wisp of fluff floating through the yard?
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I came to compliment you on the great image, and got waylaid by Carmen Miranda 😂🤣😂
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I am more than happy to play second fiddle to the entertaining Miss Miranda. 🙂
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🤣🤣
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Wow – fantastic to see this detail on such a tiny creature.
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They really are small and most often elusive in theie flight.
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You did a good job keeping the fuzziness sharp.
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It took a few tries which is all the aphid gave me before floating away.
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Looks to me like a fly fishing lure. 🙂
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For catching guppies maybe. 🙂 These are very tiny.
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Very cool, Steve. I believe I’ve seen them, and evidence of them, many times – but never like this!
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A closer look always reveals much more than a quick glance, especially at life size.
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‘Airborne lint’ made me smile – strange little creatures. The detail in the image is most impressive. Not good news for gardeners but luckily my garden is full of aphid predators!
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We have both aphid predators and farmers here, Ann. The ladybugs eat ’em and the ants farm ’em for their honeydew secretions.
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We usually have lots of ladybirds/ladybugs here – thankfully!
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