Cotton-like insect puzzles residents in Dasmariñas, Cavite

A cotton-like insect recently captured the attention of a couple in Dasmariñas, Cavite, after they spotted it on one of their plants.

In Kuya Kim’s report on “24 Oras,” Thursday, Arman Romares shared that he likes spending his free time tending to his plants.

To his surprise, he saw a white insect that resembled the features of cotton.

“Akala ko po bulak. Binuhat ko na si halaman, gumalaw. Gumapang lang po siya sa braso ko. Tumalon siya ulit sa halaman, ‘di ko po alam kung anong insekto kasi ngayon ko lang siya nakita. Tinawag ko ‘yung asawa ko para video-han,” he said.

“Nung una, akala ko bulak lang. ‘Yun pala, insekto, gumagapang-gapang,” his wife, Jannette, added.

They posted the video online, hoping to get an answer on what the insect was.

According to Kuya Kim, the insect they saw was a woolly aphid.

Aphids are soft-bodied insects that have a piercing, sucking mouth part, which they use to suck plant sap.

“Meron siyang piercing, sucking na mouth part, so pini-pierce niya ‘yung halaman, and then sina-suck niya ‘yung juice out of them,” entomologist Alhmar Cervantes said.

The insect Arman saw was called a woolly aphid because of its wool-like wax growth.

“Mga wax secretions ‘yun ng katawan nila, protection nila from the environment and from predators,” the entomologist said.

Such insects are not harmful to mankind but are considered pests.

“Nagiging pest sila sa atin kasi pagka kumain sila ng katas ng halaman, they also produce honeydew, parang katas galing sa katawan nila. ‘Pag nalagyan ng honeydew ‘yung ating gamit, napakahirap tanggalin. Honeydew, nagko-cause lang ng problema sa mga halaman, lumalapat siya sa dun leaves, tapos hindi masyado nakakakuha ng sunlight for photosynthesis ‘yung mga halaman,” he said.

“Ang nangyayari, kulang ‘yung photosynthesis, minsan, bumabaluktot ‘yung dahon, naninilaw, or nababansot. Pero hindi sila gano’n kalawak magcause ng damage,” he added.

— Carby Basina / CACM, GMA Integrated News