Question 1

What does scale look like on crepe myrtles?

Accepted Answer

White-to-gray, felt-like crusty bumps clustered on the bark and in the branch crotches; crushed, they smear pink. A black sooty film usually coats the bark below.

Question 2

Will crepe myrtle bark scale kill the tree?

Accepted Answer

Rarely outright — but a heavy, untreated infestation disfigures the tree, cuts blooms, and weakens it over years, so it’s worth treating.

Question 3

What is the best insecticide for crepe myrtle bark scale?

Accepted Answer

A systemic soil drench — dinotefuran is the common choice — applied in spring, backed by a dormant-season horticultural oil. Timing to the crawler stage matters more than the brand.

Question 4

Is the black stuff on my crepe myrtle a fungus?

Accepted Answer

No. It’s sooty mold growing on the honeydew that scale and aphids excrete. Kill the insect and the mold weathers off on its own.

Question 5

Should I peel the bark off my crepe myrtle?

Accepted Answer

No. Smooth bark peeling in tan-and-cinnamon strips is normal, healthy exfoliation — one of the tree’s best features. Leave it alone.

Question 6

What eats crepe myrtle scale?

Accepted Answer

The twice-stabbed lady beetle is the main predator; its adults and larvae both feed on bark scale. Avoid broad sprays that kill these helpers.

Question 7

Can crepe myrtle bark scale spread to my other trees?

Accepted Answer

Yes — it moves readily to nearby crepe myrtles, so an untreated tree can seed a whole row. Treating early is the best way to stop the spread.

Plant Pests and Disease

Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale and Problems (NC)

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