What's the small white fly with fluffy wing/body? It's on hackberry tree and defoliating some shrubs.?

Question

Looks like a whitefly but is fluffy. Leaves sap on leaves and has caused some to shed. Any idea what it is and how to control it? Thanks.

Thanks. I believe it's the wooly aphid. Have seen them before but never in these numbers.

Answer 1

I believe what you are talking about is a wooly aphid. They are not a true aphid, but for all intents and purposes they look and behave very much like the aphid only the specialize on trees rather than plants and flowers. Here is a pic for comparison:
http://pics.davesgarden.com/pics/DiOhio_1169275873_149.jpg
Biological control of aphids and wooly aphids:
http://tfpg.cas.psu.edu/349.htm

Other than that you can use insecticidal soaps and horticultural oil to prevent next an outbreak next season. "Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils are effective. Horticultural oil can be applied during winter and before new growth emerges in the spring".
http://forestry.about.com/od/forestinsects/p/sect_com_bwa.htm
Good luck

I just found this article about a wooly hackberry aphid. Control and prevention is the same, but maybe you should take a look at this one too:
http://citybugs.tamu.edu/IntheNews_Details.asp?ID_Key=411

Answer 2

Mealybugs. There are pesticides you can use (including oils) but you run the risk of killing other plants. The best remedy, they say, is to remove the infested plant, or at least the parts of it which are infested (i.e. prune).

The "sap" they leave is known as "honeydew". Kind of like bug spit. They actually suck up more plant sap than they can digest, so they purge the rest. If you let it go, you'll have sticky honeydew all over the place under the plant.

Answer 3

there are a lot of them this year

they don't like soapy water, it chokes them. I think the best stuff is "soft soap solution" but detergent with water seems to work.