Q&A – What is this black soot on my hackberry tree’s leaves?

This is sooty mold caused by the wooly hackberry aphid. UT Extension Agent Celeste Scott says the aphid has piercing sucking mouthparts and feeds on tree sap. It also produces honeydew that sooty mold grows on. The wooly hackberry aphid does not harm the tree and they do not need to be controlled. Subscribe now to Family Plot for more gardening videos like these!    / familyplot   For even more information, go to https://www.familyplotgarden.com