Sticky honeydew from lime trees is the outcome of a sugar-rush fuelled aphid love-in

Going to sit down in our garden earlier today under a large lime lime tree this afternoon, I could only take a seat after the daily (sometimes twice daily) chore of wiping the sticky honeydew off the seats, all the time being bombarded by a blizzard of pea-sized seeds which seem particularly plentiful this year. 

But, I shouldn't complain, lime trees are one of our most ancient arboreal cousins. They're great for nature. The honeydew that I so assiduously wipe away is excreted by thousands upon thousands of Eucallipterus tiliae, tiny Linden aphids.

Young linden aphids flanked by an adult (Image: Graham Calow on www.naturespot.org.uk)

According to a very informative information sheet published by hellotrees.co.uk, all these tiny creatures are essentially like a bunch of affectionate teens hugging and caressing each other as they gorge on the a sugary drink. 

Apparently they're after the protein the lime tree leaves contain in small quantities. So they ingest huge amounts, extract what they need and pass the rest of the sugary water through, depositing it on whatever is below. The sheet says that in some European countries, bees include the deposits in their nectar gathering.

Knowing this will lighten my burden as I wipe away the results of their sugar and sex orgies.

Sheet attached below.