Over the past couple of weeks I have received numerous calls on what looks like mold or mildew on crape myrtles in yards.
It has surprised homeowners when they have gone out and looked at the mildew to see that it is moving.
This is because the bark is encrusted with a nonnative insect called the Crape Myrtle Bark Scale.
First found in Texas in 2015, this pest has made a landscape icon far less desirable.
When these scales take over a tree they will produce large amounts of honeydew and will result in sooty mold on branches and leaves causing the trees to appear black and not very appealing.
While black sooty mold is not a lone identifier for the pest, the presence of small white felt-like covered scales is almost a sure sign.
Other insects can cause honeydew such as an aphid that is pretty common although they will rarely be mistaken and confused with the white scale.
If your tree starts to look dull and you cannot find anything in the lower portion of the tree be sure to look in the top part of the canopy.
When you have properly identified the problem, you can start putting together a plan that includes exclusion, plant selection, plant destruction, and chemical treatment.
Obviously avoiding plants from the nursery that already have an infestation will give you a head start.
When choosing plants for a landscape be sure to add a variety of plants to help add diversity and mitigate the risk of losing a mass planting of one species to an insect or disease. Destruction of the tree should always be done properly and for the right reasons.
If you are wanting to protect your neighbor from getting the infestation, wanting to replace the trees with a different species, or not willing to spend the amount of money to control it chemically then getting rid of the plants by burning or burying is acceptable.
The last control measure can be costly simply because there is not a 1 shot control.
Most chemical applications must be repeated. Soil applied products that contain imidacloprid or dinotefuran can be applied and watered in but will most likely need to be repeated next year.
If you have a large number of trees consider a commercial applicator because products offered to homeowners will be quite expensive in controlling a high number of trees.
Don't let this pest scare you. It can be controlled and crape myrtles will continue to be known for their beauty and low maintenance.
