Aphids are starting to ravage a variety of plants in a wide swath of North America. They suck sap out of leaves while also injecting plant-damaging saliva and viruses. Moreover, they also excrete honeydew, a sweet, sticky liquid that attracts fungi and other bugs.
In many areas, they are most active in the spring, and the female aphids may even be reproducing without males. In certain conditions, they can essentially be born pregnant, quickly producing new generations of garden pests.