At this time of year you can find underneath beech trees black spots that look like the leftover of a fire. At first when I saw them I suspected someone else was wandering my woods. I don’t mind that if I know who it is and they have gotten permission. I soon learned that the black spots were just aphid poop. If you look above the spots there will be a branch covered with aphids.

Aphid Poop

Aphids on beech tree limb