Controlling the scale will result in the disappearance of the sooty mold. What is Scale? Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ssp.) Crapemyrtle Bark Scale: This crape myrtle pest is a more recent arrival. It threatens to turn what has historically been a beautiful, low maintenance tree into an unsightly high maintenance tree. The crapemyrtle bark scale, drips honeydew, turns bark black, and reduces blooming on crapemyrtle. In October 2013, the insect was confirmed in Germantown, Tenn., and, finally, in Little Rock in January 2014. Preventing Crape Myrtle Bark Scale. The black sooty mold is a by-product of the the scale. Thanks for all your expertise. Crape Myrtle Bark Scale on Crape Myrtle Tree By Elaine Pugh, Fairfax Master Gardener Crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS), a type of felt scale, is a serious threat to the crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica. The crapemyrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) is a recently introduced pest from Asia that initially infested crapemyrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) This year it seems a day hasnât gone by without a new report. A few facts about CMBS. Then they spread initially Announcer: Farm and family is a production of the Mississippi State University Extension Service. CMBS might be found anywhere on crepe myrtles bark, and often appears near pruning sites and branch crotches of more mature wood. Crepe myrtles that are subjected to poor pruning habits (looking at you crepe myrtle toppers) are more likely to get bad bark problems. Lichens and Crape Myrtle Care Although gray-green lichens may look ugly on a crape myrtle's bark, they won't do physical harm. If you find this scale, please take sample to the county agricultural agent. Often times, the first sign of CMBS is the black sooty mold on the tree bark. The crape myrtle bark scale has been found in North Texas â in the Dallas area â and in north Louisiana â in the Shreveport area. For heavily infested trees, clean the trunks and reachable limbs with a ⦠Is this correct? Adult females are felt-like white or gray encrustations that stick to crape myrtle parts ranging from small twigs to large trunks. Maintain proper pruning methods to keep your trees healthy. As they mature, crapemyrtle bark scales secrete waxy deposits that become felted or matted into a thick white or scale covering.gray When the waxy scale cover is removed, adult females are wingless and sessile (i.e., permanently attached to the host plant). This is effective. Amy Myers: Today we're talking about crepe myrtle bark scale scouting and control recommendations.Hello, I'm Amy Taylor and welcome to Farm and Family. This is effective. Again, keep in mind that it is a slow process for the insectici de treatment to reach its potential and to also allow for safer foraging of local bees. Scrub down the trunk of the crape myrtle with a mild solution of dish-washing soap and water using a long-handled brush to remove the scale and sooty mold. If you live in the Mid-South, you most likely have a crepe myrtle in ⦠Crape myrtle bark scale feeds on the tree, creating a liquid called honeydew. When you find bark coming off a crepe myrtle, you might think it is diseased and be tempted to treat it with a pesticide or antifungal treatment. Adult female, what you may see on the tree, are round and gray-white in color The problem usually goes unnoticed until plants begin turning black. It is an insect pest that is called crape myrtle bark scale. A lot of people plant crepe myrtle trees and then start worrying as soon as they find that the bark is shedding from a crepe myrtle tree in their yard. This new âbugâ, Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (CMBS), is an insect from Asia that attacks crapemyrtles. For information on this insect pest and control measures, please see HGIC 2015, Crapemyrtle Bark Scale. Lady beetles, including the multicolored Asian lady beetle and the twice-stabbed lady beetle feed on the scale. The scale is a sucking insect that feeds on the phloem (sap) of plants. Crape myrtle bark scale is an introduced insect pest from Asia, and it has great affinity for crape myrtle trees. This nonnative scale was first detected in the United States in 2004. All varieties are susceptible to attack by crape myrtle scales, although research is underway to see if some are more so than others. The crapemyrtle bark scale, Acanthococcus (= Eriococcus ) lagerstromiae (Kuwana), was first confirmed in the USA in 2004 in the landscape near Dallas (TX), although it was likely introduced earlier. The adult . It looks like you have Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (CMBS). Answer: Scale on crape myrtles has become a common problem the last few years. I wouldn't worry about the sooty mold since the leaves will be falling soon from the tree. However, we hold to crapemyrtle bark scale because it is the recognized common name approved by the Entomological Society of America. Other Problems. in Texas during 2004.Since then, it has spread rapidly through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Georgia. As is the case with most invasive species, there are few natural enemies of the crape myrtle bark scale. Crape Myrtle bark Scale (CMBS) is a serious threat to our favorite Mid-South tree, the Crape Myrtle. Sooty Mold: Leaf and stem surfaces are covered with a black sooty substance, causing them to appear black and dirty. Note: There are a several common names for Lagerstroemia species (e.g., crapemyrtle, crape myrtle, crepe myrtle) and these sometimes carry over to the scale insectâs common name, such as crape myrtle bark scale. Since 2013, in the city of Germantown, there has been a suspicious decrease in the health and appearance of one of the Southâs ubiquitous flowering tree species, the crepe myrtle. Crape Myrtle Bark Scale (CMBS) It is a serious threat southern crape myrtle trees. The crape myrtle bark scale was first noticed in a Dallas suburb in 2004 and started its northern migration, spreading quickly across the South. Crepe myrtle bark scale affects crepe myrtles more that are unhealthy. The pest causing this damage is called Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale (CMBS). From what we've read, scale appears to actually be an insect, not a fungus. Crape myrtle bark scale is relatively easy to identify. Do we need to move on to the sick tree treatment? The scales also reproduce on the shrubs, with each female laying dozens of pink eggs. 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. Southern favorites, crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica), produce showy, long-lasting summer blooms. We understand there are many different types of scale and we were reading about an Elm, so maybe it's completely different for a Crepe Myrtle. Crape Myrtle Bark Scale Facts. This honeydew turns in to a black sooty mold. It is one of the only scales known to infest crape myrtles. Another treatment recommended is to spray the trunks of the trees with dormant oil in late winter. The pest has now been found in the Virginia Beach area, and may reach Northern Virginia. Crape myrtle bark scale is a messy insect pest that leaves behind a sticky honeydew residue in which black sooty mold will develop. Scale can affect a variety of ornamental trees and small shrubs, but crape myrtle bark scale is unique to that particular tree. It has been verified in all areas of both the City of Huntsville and Madison County. Click for a hub of Extension resources related to the current COVID-19 situation. Shrubs, grass, walkways, and vehicles underneath the canopies of these crepe myrtles may show a sticky substance and look to be turning black along with the tree itself. scale may be worse on hybrids (fauriei × indica). Crepe myrtle bark scale insects make their home on the plant's exfoliating white bark, where they conceal themselves beneath protective wax. The second year of survey data tracking crape myrtle bark scale has provided researchers information they believe will help mitigate the pest's effect on ⦠University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture and County Governments Cooperating In more southern areas, sooty mold may be mistaken for that of the crape myrtle ⦠Treating Crape Myrtle Bark Scale will take a combination of Dominion 2L and Pivot 10 Insect Growth Regulator via soil drench around the tree. Treatment of crapemyrtle bark scale can be achieved with planning, by allowing early treatment of infected plants for crepe myrtle bark scale. This pest threatens to turn what has historically been a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape tree into an unsightly, high-maintenance landscape tree. Black Residue on Crape Myrtle Trees. Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale. Please note, we have root flare. Grayish-white patches on the bark near pruning wounds or in branch crotches hide colonies of the insects. Females lay eggs under the scale cover from May through September. The best time to treat is in during spring, between April and May. Most gardeners are first alerted to crape myrtle bark scale by the presence of black sooty mold on the bark. Insect Description Crapemyrtle bark scale is easy to identify since, in the U.S., it is the first and only known bark scale to occur on crapemyrtles. This insect is relatively new to our area but has become fairly prevalent. Now, crape myrtle bark scale can be found as far west as New Mexico, as far north as Kansas and as far east as Virginia. When crushed, these scales exude pink âbloodâ-like liquid. Note: Invasive species sneak into the United States in many ways. is a deciduous shrub or tree that ranges in height from 3-foot dwarves to towering trees of 50 feet. Green Stuff on Crepe Myrtle Bark. As it feeds, it excretes a sugary solution known as "honeydew" (similar to aphids, whiteflies, and other sucking insects). CMBS, first identified in Texas in 2004, has now spread to at least 12 additional states including Alabama. A little insect called the âCrape Myrtle Bark Scaleâ, or CMBS, is turning out in mass numbers and when they feed on the crape myrtle sap they excrete a sticky substance called honeydew. Prevent the reestablishment of Crape Myrtle Bark Scale with regular maintenance tasks of pruning, mulching, fertilizing and watering your tree. It is most prevalent in Texas and Louisiana. Today we're speaking with Dr. Blake Layton, Mississippi State University Extension Entomology Specialist. 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