Many of Moose Jaw's residents have been noticing the unusual, sticky substance raining down from the trees in their neighbourhoods. Cars and lawn furniture are being found covered in the stuff. While this might simply seem like an annoyance to pedestrians and anyone wanting to enjoy their yards, Parks Gardener Sarah Regent, warms that it is actually the sign of a damaging aphid infestation. 

Honey-dew, as it is called, is a secretion made by aphids, living off of the sap from your trees and other plants. Regent says the excess of honey-dew pouring down from the city's trees is an indication that the aphid population is especially high this year.

"With the warm, dry temperatures, [aphids] are able to reproduce very, very quickly."

These conditions put plants in double jeopardy and homeowners should take measures to protect their trees from both the drought and aphids. Regular watering is crucial and placing bands of double-sided grease tape should be used if aphid-carrying ants are seen to be exacerbating the problem. In addition, spraying down the lower branches of your trees with water will knock the aphids off of the leaves where they are feeding.

"They're not gonna be able to find their way back up. They're not actually that great of crawlers and most of them are wingless."

Regent says that residents can also do their part in protecting the aphids' natural predator: the ladybug.

"Make sure that you do leave spots for things like ladybugs to overwinter in. It's ok to leave a couple of little piles of dead perennials or leaves because that's perfect for ladybugs. And you wanna watch your pesticide use because that's really harmful to our beneficial insects...and the pesticides are actually a lot more harmful to them than to the aphids."

Ladybug larvae are particularly at risk when it comes to pesticides since they are often found on the same leaves as aphids. The larvae look very different from adult ladybugs; almost all black with some orange stripes. They are very good aphid hunters and Regent says you should try to leave them be.

The Parks and Recreation Department has released ladybugs into the city in order to curb the aphid population and continue to monitor trees where the pests have been seen.