Crape Myrtle Scale
By Sarah Copp July 18th, 2012 @ 11:20 pm
You may be noticing a white, encrusted substance on your Crape Myrtles right now. It's actually a very small insect called Scale. Scale seldom kills a tree, though it can be harmful to a tree already under stress, which can be caused by anything from the hot weather to over-pruning. The insect secretes a substance that is a host to mold and turns the branches black.
Unfortunately, there is not a very effective way of treating this insect at this time of year. You can help control the Scale by washing each branch with a soft brush to remove eggs and then applying a systemic insecticide. Horticultural oils can be applied in the winter months, but is too harsh for summer application.
Scale populations are more prolific in some years over others, and this seems to be one of the years with a high Scale infestation. Feel free to contact me at sarah@landpatterns.com if you have specific questions about Crape Myrtle Scale.
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