The rutabagas in my home garden are covered with aphids. A. Aphids are soft-bodied insects that range in color from green, yellow, red, gray, or black. They suck the juices from leaves and stems causing stunted or deformed buds and sometimes curled or puckered leaves.
Aphids can carry viral diseases to plants.
High numbers of aphids produce a sticky sap called honeydew, which eventually gets a black, sooty mold growing on it. Expect many generations per year. Beneficial insects such as lady beetles and syrphid flies prey upon aphids. However, during the cool months of fall, consider taking action yourself. Aphids can sometimes be washed from plants with a strong stream of water.