HOW TO CONTROL CRAPE MYRTLE BARK SCALE

Nancy
5 min readMay 12, 2021

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If that you’ve invested any measure of energy in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, at that point, you realize we love our Crape Myrtles. What’s not to adore? They produce various rounds of garish, fragrant blossoms that downpour tone into our yards throughout the late spring. They’re by and large known for their toughness and energy, yet no tree is mighty to all pests or disease, and Crape Myrtles are no particular case. One problem, specifically, Crape Myrtle Bark Scale, is far-reaching among Crape Myrtles in North Texas. On the off chance that you need to study this essential pest, read on to figure out how to spot Crape Myrtle Bark Scale and what to do about it.

About Crape Myrtles

Crape Myrtles (additionally spelled Crepe Myrtle) are trees and shrubs, typically between 15–20 feet in tallness, best perceived for their shocking, enduring summer blossoms. There are a few sorts of Crape Myrtles. In Texas, you’ll fundamentally discover the assortments that flourish in warmth and dampness and endure dry season. Crape Myrtles likewise well in many soil types, including the soluble dirt found all through North Texas. Beside their delightful sprouts, Crape Myrtles have smooth, slim branches with thin, alluring bark that occasionally sheds. They come in various assortments, sizes, and shadings, from a delicate redden or lavender to a striking Fuschia.

What is Crape Myrtle Bark Scale?

Crape Myrtle Bark Scale (or Crapemyrtle Bark Scale) was first recognized in Texas in 2004, making it one of the later increments to our rundown of possible diseases for Crape Myrtle trees. Notwithstanding, it has immediately spread the word about its essence and is currently quite possibly the most widely recognized Crape Myrtle pests in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

It is effectively conspicuous by its felt-like rough surface. The grown-up females are shrouded in dark or white encrustations that drain a pink fluid when scratched. They can cover entire areas of the trunk or branches, giving the tree a layered look.

These pests feed on the sap of Crape Myrtle trees, and, as other sap-sucking creepy crawlies, they don’t wholly process their food, leaving behind a tacky fluid called honeydew. If not taken care of, this can prompt another issue: dirty form.

What are the side effects?

Crape Myrtle Bark Scale is by and large beautiful simple to recognize, yet some different pests cause comparative side effects, so this is what you need to search for on the off chance that you think your tree or bush is swarmed with Bark Scale:

Crape Myrtles usually leaf out in the spring and afterward sprout at some point from ahead of schedule to mid-summer. However, a Crape Myrtle that is swarmed may leaf out or blossom later than expected, or they may create fewer sprouts. These trees will, in general, be the last to leaf out in the spring. Panic don’t as well if it’s somewhat late.

Crape Myrtle Bark Scales are dark or white encrustations with an uneven, felt-like surface. If you crunch or cut the white spots, they will “drain” pink or red. The females produce 100 to 300 pink eggs, which bring them forth into small, pink crawlers. Crawlers are the most portable life stage. They leave the white, waxy cover and discover a news source site. When they settle, they by and large become fixed except if upset. Juvenile females have furry, dull pink, or purplish bodies. Like females, late-instar guys grow a rough, felt-like cover until they entirely create. Once completely grown, they leave the surface and fly to the grown-up females.

Crape Myrtle Bark Scale will typically first show up around pruning destinations or branch groins. Whenever left immaculate, they will cover whole trunk areas, the branches, and the twigs in the long run. You can discover them anyplace besides on the foliage.

These pests produce overflowing measures of a tacky fluid called honeydew so that you may remember them by that or the Sooty Mold.

The dingy shape is a fungus covering the leaves and branches and appears as though you unloaded the substance of your chimney onto your Crape Myrtle. It’s not growing on the tree but instead on the honeydew, which scales or other sap-sucking creepy crawlies can cause.

How might you forestall it?

The ideal approach to forestall Crape Myrtle Bark Scale is to pick a disease-safe cultivar when planting. Numerous famous National Arboretum cultivars are generally impervious to the primary Crape Myrtle diseases and pests, including Bark Scale. On the off chance that you don’t have that choice, you ought to guarantee your Crape Myrtle is pretty much as healthy as could be expected. Things like legitimate pruning, soil molding, and supplemental watering will help your tree’s general health and make it less inclined to be contrarily influenced by pests, diseases, or cruel climate occasions. Our group at TreeNewal can visit your property to evaluate your Crape Myrtle tree and decide a tree health care intend to advance its health. Call today to mastermind a meeting with an ISA Certified Arborist.

Consider the possibility that your Crape Myrtle has Bark Scale.

The primary thing you ought to never really free of the Crape Myrtle Bark Scale is to wash the tree’s trunk and appendages with a gentle combination of dish cleanser and water applied by a delicate brush. If that doesn’t get the job done, connect with our tree care experts for help.

Imagine a scenario in which the Bark Scale has prompted Sooty Mold.

The uplifting news about Sooty Mold is that it’s fundamentally a tasteful issue. Whenever took care of rapidly, it will not mischief your tree. In any case, if it’s left unattended, it could debilitate your tree’s health after some time by hindering the leaves from getting sufficient daylight, making your tree powerless to more complex issues. The ideal approach to dispose of Sooty Mold is to dispose of the creepy crawlies causing the honeydew. When you handle the creepy-crawly invasion, you can wash the Sooty Mold away, or it will, in the end, fall away all alone. If you have concerns, contact our group to discuss our tree services in Dallas, TX.

TreeNewal’s ISA Certified Arborists can help!

We realize you love your Crape Myrtle. You wouldn’t understand this on the off chance that you didn’t. On the off chance that you have been fighting the issues referenced above or saw other potential sicknesses, our tree specialists in Dallas are prepared to help. TreeNewal offers expert tree care services, for example, pest and disease control, just as tree trimming and tree evacuation. On the off chance that you have questions or worries about tree care, TreeNewal is a certified arborist tree service that can deal with all your expert tree care needs. For more data, go to our site at treenewal.com. To set up an arrangement, call us at (817) 349–7754.

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