woolly alder aphid
- noun
- /ˈwʊli ˈɔldər ˈeɪfɪd/
- Specialized
:
pulgón lanoso del aliso
- The woolly alder aphid often covers the branches of alder trees with a white, cottony mass.
Examples
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A colony of woolly alder aphid can severely weaken young trees if left untreated.
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Gardeners noticed an increase in woolly alder aphid populations last summer.
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Look at that woolly alder aphid!
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The woolly alder aphid is a pest.
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A colony of woolly alder aphid can severely weaken young trees if left untreated.
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Gardeners noticed an increase in woolly alder aphid populations last summer.
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The woolly alder aphid often covers the branches of alder trees with a white, cottony mass.
Synonyms
A small insect that feeds on alder trees and makes white woolly patches
A small insect that makes a white, cotton-like covering on plants
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward noun phrase built by adjectival and noun modifiers: 'woolly' (covered in wool-like fluff) + 'alder' (tree species) + 'aphid' (sap-sucking insect). A B1 learner who knows these constituents can directly infer it refers to an aphid that is woolly and associated with alder trees, a compositional and cross-linguistically common naming pattern.
Etymology
The noun woolly alder aphid names what it is: a woolly aphid — a 'small insect' — that lives on alder trees. The white, cotton-like 'wool' on the branches gives a clear image, so the name tells both its fluffy look and where it lives.
