A: The cottony masses may be the result of an infestation of several insects but after bringing in some specimens from your garden it was much easier to determine the culprit. You have a planthopper. Although I am not certain exactly which one I suspect it might be the Citrus flatid. I have attached a photo I took of the nymph (immature stage) taken from your parsley plant. These insects can be found on a variety of plants other than citrus. When found on nursery grown plants they will immediately lower its value so most growers set traps and scout of planthoppers. For home landscapes, most experts do not consider them a serious pest as they cause very little damage to the plant tissue. The only immediate concern for homeowners is how unsightly it looks. According to F.W. Mead (retired), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, this planthopper may potentially transmit viruses but it is unlikely. Therefore, no chemical application is necessary or recommended.

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