Pest Education • DFW Pest Control
Aphids in DFW
Aphids damage plants and produce honeydew that draws ants and sooty mold. Learn the aphid-ant connection and how to manage it.
Reviewed and updated June 2026
At a Glance
Aphids are sap-feeding plant pests whose honeydew attracts ants and sooty mold. Managing them is mostly horticultural, with an ant-control tie-in.
Quick Facts
- Look: Tiny, soft-bodied; green, black, or other colors
- Damage: Suck plant sap; curl and stunt growth
- Honeydew: Sticky waste that draws ants and sooty mold
- Concern: Plant health; encourages ant activity
What Are Aphids?
Aphids are tiny, soft-bodied insects that cluster on tender plant growth and feed on sap, causing curled leaves, stunted growth, and stressed plants. They reproduce rapidly in the growing season.
As they feed, aphids excrete a sugary waste called honeydew, which coats leaves and surfaces, encourages black sooty mold, and strongly attracts ants.
Aphids, Ants, and Control
Aphid management is primarily a horticultural task, but there is a pest-control connection: ants protect and 'farm' aphids for honeydew, so ant trails on plants often point to an aphid problem.
- Rinse aphids off with water and support beneficial insects like ladybugs.
- Use horticultural soaps or oils on plants per the label.
- Address ant trails, since ants defend aphids from natural predators.
- Reducing ant activity around the home can be part of an integrated approach.
Treatments are selected and applied per their labels. Tell us about children, pets, edible gardens, beehives, and other sensitive areas before service, and follow all preparation and re-entry instructions. More on pet- and pollinator-conscious treatment →
Common Questions
Are aphids a pest-control or gardening problem?
Mostly horticultural. Aphids are managed on plants with rinsing, beneficial insects, and labeled soaps or oils. The pest-control tie-in is the ants their honeydew attracts.
Why are ants all over my plants?
Often because aphids are present. Ants feed on aphid honeydew and protect aphids from predators, so ant trails on plants frequently signal an aphid infestation.
How do I control aphids?
Rinse them off, encourage beneficial insects, use labeled horticultural soaps or oils, and manage the ants that protect them.
Sources & Further Reading
Guidance changes over time. Follow current product labels and local recommendations. This page is educational and is not medical advice.
Have a Pest Question?
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