Question
Hi, All of a sudden we are finding sap all over our cars all of which are under our three oak trees.  It is sticky and thick, and I have to scrape it off the cars with my nails.  Most are in drops, but some are long drippings that literally cover a window.  As well and at the same time we now are finding little sticky spots on out patio that look as if someone spilled fruit juice in little dime shapes, and these lie under the outer branches of the same trees.  Do you have any idea what these could be?  Any help and advice would be so appreciated. Thanks a ton. Cindy

Answer
Sound like aphids or scale insects. Both will suck the plant juices from the leaves and twigs and excerete a substance called honeydews. Honeydew is high in sugar content and is sticky to the touch. Usually a black sooty mild will grow on the honeydew making everything black and sticky.

You can either spray the tree's foliage or use a systemic insecticide on the soil beneath and the tree will absorb the insecticide through the roots and take the insecticide to the leaves and twigs. Spraying a large tree can be difficult.


Chemical Control - Contact Insecticides Numerous contact insecticides are registered for aphid control. Since aphids are often placed under considerable pesticide pressure in field crops and greenhouses, they may be resistant to certain categories of insecticides. Therefore, if you do not obtain reasonable control, consider rotation to another insecticide. Contact insecticides currently registered for aphid control include: acephate (Orthene),  bifenthrin (Talstar), chlorpyrifos (Dursban),  diazinon,  malathion, nicotine sulfate, pyrethrum, rotenone, resmethrin, and tetramethrin + sumithrin.

Chemical Control - Systemic Insecticides Several systemic insecticides are useful in aphid control. Aphids have sucking mouthparts and are thus very susceptible to pesticides located in the plant vascular system. Some of the systemic insecticides also have contact activity. Systemics injected or applied to the ground are less harmful to beneficial insects. Systemic insecticides include: acephate (Orthene)


Certain persistent insecticides that move systemically in the plant may provide control through the fall. Imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control) is a newly available systemic insecticide that can provide aphid control on trees for several months following application to the soil.