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Struggling with sap that covers your lawn and car? You're not alone.

The big picture: Axios Austin reader Mary Catherine S. asked us about a sticky, thin layer of sap on her car that she's never seen before.

We reached out to Joe Marcus, program coordinator of the Native Plants of North America at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, who explained what's happening.

Be smart: The sticky residue isn't tree sap. It's honeydew — a sugary liquid secreted by aphids, who feed on tree leaves, Marcus told us.

Of note: Honeydew won't kill your trees, but it's a pain and it often leads to sooty mold fungus growing on the top of the dew.

Pro tip: Natural predators like ladybugs and ladybird beetles can be released into a backyard to eat the aphids.

The bottom line: "It's a pretty complicated thing, but it's very common this time of year," Marcus said.

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