is sooty mold dangerous
Sooty black mold is a fungus that can appear on the surface of plant leaves, stems, twigs, branches and even fruits. The fungus does not harm or feed off the plants, but instead gets its nourishment from honeydew. Honeydew is a sticky, sweet substance that certain insects secrete. When sooty mold spores are carried by the wind and land in the honeydew, the fungus feeds on the honeydew and grows, covering the plants and causing a charcoal-like sooty coating of mold. When your plants have black sooty mold, your real problem is caused by the insects, such as aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs and scale.