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RTEC Treecare

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Aphids, Sap, & Ladybugs 🐞

Resources: Tree Problems

You may not be familiar with aphids but most homeowners are familiar with the sticky sap that drips from trees around this time of year and the cute little insects we call ladybugs. But what do all these things have in common?

They’re all part of an environmental equilibrium which is often out of balance in our urban landscape. To be specific, the aphids are the pest, the sap a symptom, and ladybugs a natural solution.

Aphids

7 insects to look out for this summer - Aphids
Aphids on the backside of tree leaves

Aphids, also known as plant lice, are among the most destructive tree bugs. They reproduce rapidly making it easy for them to quickly grow into a large population that will damage your tree.  Found from May through September, these tiny insects do damage by feeding on the soft tissues and plant sap of tree/shrub leaves.

Targets: Aphids target many species including but not limited to; Ash, Crape Myrtles, Fir, Pine, Spruce, Cedar, Hackberry, Roses, and Tulip Poplars.

Symptoms of Aphids:

  • Drooping Leaves
  • Yellow Spots
  • Black small dots on the underside of the leaves (these are what aphids look like to the naked eye)
  • Honeydew (also referred to as sap) dripping from tree leaves or at the base of the tree
  • Sooty Mold, black substance on tree leaves/base of the tree.
  • Ants on the Tree (Ants love the taste of honeydew. Trails of them going up and down the tree signal that honeydew and aphids are present.)

Sap/Honeydew

honeydew on walkway
Honeydew on the sidewalk under a tree

Honeydew, commonly referred to as sap, is one of the most common and most noticeable symptoms of aphids and other plant-sucking insects. You may not be familiar with the name but you’re probably familiar with the issue. Have you ever encountered annoying sticky sap coating your car, furniture, or walkway that’s under a tree? That’s honeydew.

This sticky substance can be extremely frustrating for homeowners because it’s difficult to remove, accumulates dirt, and attracts flies and other annoying insects. But what most homeowners are surprised to hear is that Honeydew isn’t actually sap. It’s the excrement from plant-sucking insects such as Aphids.

Thankfully, we have a variety of ways to successfully treat aphids and rid your yard of honeydew. One of the most effective, organic, and entertaining ways is to use the food chain to our advantage.

Ladybugs – A Natural Treatment

Native LadyBug

Ladybugs are a natural predator that feed on aphids. When you release ladybugs on your aphid infested tree/shrub and into your landscape they will feed on the aphid population, keeping this pest in check, halting the damage the aphids were creating, and stopping the annoying symptom of honeydew/sap dripping from your tree/shrub. Not to mention it’s a fun activity for children and adults to participate in.

Using beneficial insects, like ladybugs, is a natural and efficient way of solving your pest issues. In addition, it’s better for the environment and keeping the delicate ecosystem balanced in your landscape.

Why Shouldn’t I Just Use Insecticides?

Beneficial Insect Release
Beneficial Insect Release of Ladybugs on a Client’s Property in 2018

There is often a lack of beneficial insects in our suburban landscapes. Often times these beneficial insects are killed off by indiscriminate spraying of insecticides, mosquito spray companies being one of the biggest offenders. When over-spraying occurs it creates a situation where pests populations are able to recover and repopulate faster than the beneficial insect populations that feed on them. This leads to the pests feeding on trees and causing damage without being slowed down by any natural predators.*

If over-spraying insecticides caused your aphid issues using even more insecticides this year could just make the problem worse next year. In these situations it’s often advised to either strictly use beneficial insects to treat aphids, or a combination of traditional insecticides followed by a beneficial insect release to restore the balance in your landscape.

If you are experiencing honeydew or other symptoms of aphids, we can help! Give us a call at 703.573.3029 to schedule an appointment or book an appointment online to get started solving your aphid issues.

*RTEC uses the SmartTreat™ method when performing insecticide treatments which greatly reduces the risk of killing beneficial insects and creating situations like the one discussed above. Learn more about the SmartTreat ™ method.

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Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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