Stickiness on lilies! urgent help needed!!!

[pontus]

Hello everyone,

today, i noticed some strange stickiness on my lilies, only present on the upper part of the "unfurling" stem and leaves and also some buds. it feels to the touch as if though someone had gone and covered them with maple syrup...

i looked and looked, but saw no trace of insects or disease anywhere.

i was wondering 2 things.:

1 : is this harmfull to the lilies?

2 : what has caused it and how can i get rid of it?

i noticed a few aphids in a nearby prunus tree, which i will try and remove by hand somehow..could this aphid proximity have caused the stickyness? in which case how, as there where no aphids on the lilies at all...

thanks in advance for any advice

Pontus

[ArnoldT]

I've seen this on some plum leaves and usually it's from leave above that have aphids on them.  The 'dew' they secrete drips on the lower leaves.  I think this is a case of ants places the aphids there to eventually 'milk' them.