Aphid Honeydew on Beech Tree: Identification and Control

The Problem

Sticky leaves attracting bees/wasps are caused by aphids excreting honeydew. Sooty mold may follow.

Contact sprays: Acephate (Orthene), bifenthrin, malathion, etc.—must cover foliage, repeat weekly.
Systemic (best for large trees): Imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control) as soil drench. Roots transport to leaves; aphids die feeding. Lasts months.

Use systemic for thorough, long-lasting control without spray drift.

Trees: Woolly Aphids on Big Maple: Systemic Soil Drench Stops Honeydew; Globe Willow Aphid Infestation: Sooty Mold and Systemic Control; Sticky Maple Sap on Cars: Aphid Honeydew Solution; Hawthorn Root System: Safe for Patio Planting; Alder with Black Sticky Coating: Aphids and Sooty Mold; Sticky Weeping Willow in Idaho: Aphid Honeydew; Planting Weeping Cherry Near a House: Spacing Guidelines for Root and Canopy Safety; Hackberry Dripping Sticky Residue: Aphids and Sooty Mold; Sticky Ficus Leaves: Honeydew from Insects, Not Transpiration; Aphids: Tiny Sap-Suckers That Multiply Explosively

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