Motorists in Lancashire have been warned they could face a £1,200 repair bill by simply parking under a tree this summer.
Most drivers look for a shady spot to leave their car in when the temperatures rise but one motoring expert says this could be an expensive mistake.
That’s because tiny insects that are set to swarm across the country over the next few months can wreak damage on vehicles with their poo.
The UK’s greenfly population is set to explode due to this week’s early summer sunshine and higher temperatures.
But while they are seen as a positive by nature lovers, the mini beasts – also known as aphids – can become a nightmare for vehicle owners.
Greenfly droppings can rot paintwork and damage soft tops on convertibles, leaving people with a hefty £800 bill for replacing a roof or an eye-watering £1,200 invoice for respraying.
Aphids normally appear in June and July, and suck sap from trees and plants – making them a pest for gardeners.
But with UK temperatures set to be higher than Ibiza this weekend, the tiny insects are set to make an early appearance.
Graham Conway from Select Car Leasing says the issue is one many motorists don’t know about until it’s too late.
He explained: “Greenfly excrete a sticky substance known as ‘honeydew’ that forms a residue when it falls on bonnets and car roofs.
“It can be difficult to remove, taking some serious elbow grease and specialist cleaning products to shift.
“But if left it turns into soot-like black mould spores that are acidic and can therefore eat through your paintwork.
“Repairing this will put a serious dent in your finances, as a respray will set you back up to £1,200 and a decent replacement roof for your beloved soft top costs around £800.”
Aphid population numbers are mind-boggling. A single tree can host around 2.5 million of them and they breed rapidly because their eggs don’t need to be fertilised.
Mr Conway added: “It’s hard to avoid parking under a tree all summer so it’s worth having a plan of action for if you spot some of this damaging residue on your paintwork.
“Get to work straight away and clean it off. Carry some wipes in the glovebox so if you’re out and about you can get rid of as much as possible, then tackle it properly with specialist car cleaning detergents when you get home.”
