woolly aphid

5853   Hello.  I live just outside Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. For the past number of days there have been these rather SMALL whitish bugs flying around. First thought it was pollen floating by … but they are a flying bug. Looks more white in the air but have a blueish (neon) glow. Some got caught in a web and when I removed them they appeared to be more blue. A number of friends have also commented on my personal FB page that they too have seen them and are curious to know what they are. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Janet 

This is a woolly aphid (Hemiptera/ Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae; subfamily Eriosomatinae), see http://tinyurl.com/jugtw2r for images and more detailed information on their life history. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.