One of the fastest growing crape myrtles, Lagerstroemia 'Red Rocket' is a splendid, rounded, deciduous shrub with a profusion of large clusters, up to 24 in. Crepe myrtle bark scale insects make their home on the plant's exfoliating white bark, where they conceal themselves beneath protective wax. Crape myrtles are a very hardy trees with lots of reserves, so it would take several seasons of bark scale for the tree to succumb to this pest. With literally hundreds of sizes and colors available, crape (or crepe) myrtles are a terrific, low-maintenance choice for prolific blooms during hot, humid summers. Since then, it spread rapidly. Spray with a neem oil product, insecticidal soap or horticultural oil to control most pests that are infesting crape myrtle trees. Read these essentials crepe myrtle care tips. The common garden pests that infect crepe myrtle are aphids. So just sit back and enjoy the bark’s display that adds winter interest to your tree. Then they secrete a sticky honeydew that black mold grows on. If you notice a white powdery coating, this could be a problem. Most gardeners will be alerted to CMBS by black sooty mold which appears on the bark . Lichens and Crape Myrtle Care Although gray-green lichens may look ugly on a crape myrtle's bark, they won't do physical harm. More information about identification can … Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale (let’s call it CMBS) is a small insect that appears as a white or gray felt-like encrustation. Most species of Lagerstroemia have sinewy, fluted stems and branches with a mottled appearance that arises from having bark that sheds throughout the year. Crepe myrtle scale arrived here a few years ago as an accidental import from Asia. Wrap sticky ant protection strips around the tree trunks and prune any tree parts that touch another tree or structure to prevent ants from reaching your trees. Crape myrtle bark scale, Eriococcus lagerstroemiae, belongs to a special group of scale insects known as felt scales. This honeydew, in t… Some contents of crepe myrtle are corosolic acid, saponin, tannin, and flavonoid. Arborday.org – Tree ID Tool; Current Garden Thymes . Lichens thrive in sunny parts of a plant with few leaves, but are not responsible for thinning leaves. The crepe myrtle will absorb the insecticide and all scales feeding on it will die. Plant breeders have developed crape myrtle hybrids to combat mildew issues that plague plants in humid climates. Heavy infestations of crape myrtle aphids can also cause trees to be covered with black sooty mold, but any crape myrtle that is covered with sooty mold should be carefully ex… Since then, it spread rapidly. Small Trees In general, small crape myrtle trees grow between 10 and 15 feet tall. Samples were collected by Sarah Watts, Extension Agriculture Technician, and confirmed at the NC State University Plant Disease and Insect Clinic by Dr. Matt Bertone, Extension Associate. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. Grayish-white patches on the bark near pruning wounds or in branch crotches hide colonies of the insects. The female’s body shrinks as eggs are pro- duced. Detail: Crapemyrtle Bark Scale The scale first appears as white or grey waxy crustations around pruning cuts and in the crotches of branches of crape myrtles. Powdery Mildew: Powdery mildew is one of the most common problems of crape myrtle, and it is caused by the fungus Erysiphe lagerstroemia. It blooms in abundance in summer and fall, with huge panicles of densely packed, crinkled flowers. Crape Myrtle Bark Scale is a recent (2004) invasive insect from Asia. Our disease resistant varieties include the Natchez, Sioux, Tonto, Dynamite, Red Rocket and more. Some common issues are: Crape Myrtle Topping “Topping,” or removing all growth above a certain height is a common practice and a terrible one. As with most insects, there are several life stages and the appearance of CMBS changes with the stages. Adult white scale is a tiny grey or whitish pest easily identified by its waxy, crust-like covering. However, the Crape Myrtle does boast a higher resistance to pests and diseases than other flowering tree varieties, and when they are affected, the issues are easy to mediate quickly. Infestation rarely kills the target tree, but it does turn it into an ugly mess. Southern Living is a registered trademark of, These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021, 7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020, 50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. So it naturally follows that the key to getting rid of sooty mold on your crape myrtle trees is to control the pests that are infesting them. The scales also reproduce on the shrubs, with each female laying dozens of pink eggs. Some contents of crepe myrtle are also believed to be used as medicines and herb potions to maintain a good health. When covered by ground covers and vines or any kind of soil or mulch — including gravel or stones — the bark cannot breathe properly, stress sets in, and the pest problems result. 4 Common Problems. It is hardy in the US zones 7 to 9. Pests and Diseases. Our disease resistant varieties include the Natchez , Sioux , Tonto , Dynamite, Red Rocket and more. Aphids, scale insects, whiteflies and mealybugs commonly infest the trees and excrete the honeydew that feeds sooty mold fungi. No matter where you live in the South, crepe myrtles should have bloomed by now. Crepe myrtle tree identification by bark. The White Crape Myrtle is a very hardy tree, but it can still struggle with some pests and diseases. It’s easy to spot. “The white dots are likely insects called crapemyrtle bark scales. Tree to 25-30 feet tall, 15-25 feet wide. Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale is a relatively new nonnative scale that was first detected in the U.S. in 2004. But there's nothing to worry about. QUEEN'S CREPE MYRTLE. In addition to the presence of these bumps there is often also an emergence of unsightly black sooty-looking mold which develops resembling black dust on the leaves and bark of the crape myrtle plant.These are the defining characteristics which make up crape myrtl… Powdery mildew typically develops in late spring and fall and is associated with warm day and cool night temperatures and high humidity. Up close, CMBS is whit… Some contents of crepe myrtle are corosolic acid, saponin, tannin, and flavonoid. Individual blossoms reach 3 inches across. Sooty mold alone is not a definite indication of CMBS, but if you also find white, felt-covered scales that bleed pink when punctured, you can be sure you have found crape myrtle bark scale. Slowly over the last 13 years it has moved northward and is now a serious threat to Crepe Myrtles in Hampton Roads. It occurs after the tree has … Crape myrtle bark scale is relatively easy to identify. The small CMBS males are winged and will fly to find females and to mate. The scale is a sucking insect that feeds on the phloem (sap) of plants. It is hardy in the US zones 7 to 9. One of the beautiful features of a mature crepe myrtle is peeling bark that reveals the coloration in the wood. Ants protect aphids from their natural predators in order to harvest the sticky honeydew. Aphids are tiny green bugs that crawl on leaves and bite into them for the tree’s nectar. Heavy infestations of crape myrtle bark scale are easy to spot and identify. Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. Crape myrtle bark scale, or CMBS, was first detected in the state in early 2015. If … In winter, the top layer of bark peels away, exposing cream or pinkish-orange wood underneath. Aphids and azalea bark scale feed on the sugars produced by Crepe Myrtles. It also sometimes strikes these plants which are in shady locations. The flowers of crepe myrtle are the reason why it is so popular. When crushed, these scales exude pink “blood”-like liquid. Often times, the first sign of CMBS is the black sooty mold on the tree bark. Crepe myrtles create interest all year and are adaptable to many sized gardens. Crepe myrtle bark scale insects make their home on the plant's exfoliating white bark, where they conceal themselves beneath protective wax. Blooming in mid to late summer, they create a brilliant display in the landscape. Crapemyrtle bark scales build shells over themselves so normal insecticides won’t kill them. Since 2013, in the city of Germantown, there has been a suspicious decrease in the health and appearance of one of the South’s ubiquitous flowering tree species, the crepe myrtle. Powdery, black residue on your crape myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia indica) probably isn't doing them any harm, but the same can't be said for the pests that cause it. Not only as medicine, can crepe myrtle also be used as herbs that are good for the health. When pressed or scraped, CMBS leaves behind a pinkish residue. Photo by Sarah Watts. The scales also reproduce on the shrubs, with each female laying dozens of pink eggs. Spring Master Gardener Class; Qtr 4, 2020; MGNA Plant Sale; Week of July 27; Week of July 13; MG INTERNS! The bark of the tree has a mottled effect, and it sheds itself throughout the year to reveal fresh bark beneath. Safety and Insecticide Treatment Notes: Many cultivars of crape myrtles can grow very tall, and some may reach heights of 20 or 30 feet. In some instance, insects may be to blame, so check for aphids or other pests. Th… The undigested sugars pass through the insects and are deposited on the leaf or stem where the insects are feeding. Infected parts of the plant are usually distorted and stunted. When covered by ground covers and vines or any kind of soil or mulch — including gravel or stones — the bark cannot breathe properly, stress sets in, and the pest problems result. If the black residue is coating only one area of your tree, check for a cut or gash. These symptoms are only seen on the leaf but if the tree gets this crepe myrtle disease then the flowers and the growth of this crepe myrtle are the affected. * Size: 'Sarah's Favorite' grows about 18 to 20 feet tall by 12 feet wide in 20 years. Crape myrtle cultivars range from 18 inches to 40 feet tall and grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. Crepe myrtle scale has no natural enemies here yet, so follow the Grumpy Gardener's tips for controlling this pest. Adult females produce a white, felt-like sac around their bodies and lay approximately 100 to 300 pink eggs inside this sac. This can be a difficult pest to control and it may take m… If aphids quickly recolonize your crape myrtle trees, ants could be the underlying cause of the problem. Newsletters (2014-2020) Calendar; MGNA Field Trips; Community Projects; Workshops ; Speaker’s Bureau; Help Desk; Home » Crape Myrtle Bark Scale. That's just what's happening now with a new insect pest called the crepe myrtle scale. Adult females produce a white, felt-like sac around their bodies and lay approximately 100 to 300 pink eggs inside this sac. Crape myrtle trees are large shrubs or trees that are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 9 and flower in late summer. This fungal disease is a serious problem on crape myrtles from Maryland to Florida and out to Texas and in the North on trees planted near the seashore or other cool, foggy areas. The crapemyrtle is native to Southeast Asia. Crape myrtle bark scale is relatively easy to identify. The fact that crapemyrtles have the potential for a long flowering period (up to 120 days) in the summer has given rise to the popularity of this plant in our state. Powdery, black residue on your crape myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia indica) probably isn't doing them any harm, but the same can't be said for the pests that cause it. Once the mated females produce their ovisacs (egg-containing capsules) and lay eggs, they die. Large leaves (8-12 inches long, 4 inches wide) turn red in fall. Several types of insects feed on tree sap, secreting a sweet, sticky honeydew that sooty mold fungi thrive on. L. indica × L. faueri hybrids – These hybrids are completely resistant to powdery mildew and are more hardy than the common crape myrtle, so you can grow them in the zone 6 as well. First, after its leaves drop, apply dormant oil to the trunks and branches. Heavily infected flowers may fail to open. Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale (let’s call it CMBS) is a small insect that appears as a white or gray felt-like encrustation. Crepe myrtle has some contents that can be used as a medicine to cure some kind of diseases.