Crape Myrtle Bark Scale Control: How To Get Rid of Crape Myrtle Bark Scale

Crape Myrtle Bark Scale is a relatively new problem that has been recently discovered on Crape Myrtle trees within the past 10 to 15 years. Imported to the States from China, Crape Myrtle Bark Scale has been rapidly spread and has begun to show up in many areas where Crape Myrtle has been planted around the country, particularly in the South in Texas.

Crape Myrtle Bark Scale is actually a scaled insect and because of their tiny size, CMBS may not be noticed right away on a tree and the population would have to get pretty big to be able to notice large clusters of the scale on parts of tree branches. When there are severe infestations, you will see them practically cover large chunks of the tree. These areas will also carry a lot of black sooty mold.

The presence of Crape Myrtle Bark Scale may not be a severe issue compared to other plant diseases, but it can be detrimental to the productivity of the tree. Some of the problems CMBS brings about are the limiting of blooms; you will see a little bit of reduction in the blooms. Also, honeydew production from the bark scale on the leaves which may begin dripping sap down off the leaves. This can be a problem if you park under the tree, as they can create a bit of a mess. Also, the sap is known to draw ants.

If you have Crape Myrtle Bark Scale growing on your trees, our DIY guide has the advice and products you need to eliminate crape myrtle bark scale quickly and affordably.

Identification

Before you can carry out a treatment program, you need to make sure you know what Crape Myrtle Bark Scale looks like so you can identify whether or not it's the issue you see. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong ineffective treatment method, which can end up being a waste of time and money. These are the defining characteristics that make up crape myrtle bark scale to help you to confirm it's presence on your trees:

• Crape myrtle bark scale will appear like a white waxy crusty dot found on the tree trunk, branches or bark. When crushed with a finger, it will ooze out a pink substance.
• In addition to the presence of these bumps there is often also an emergence of unsightly black sooty-looking mold which develops resembling black dust on the leaves and bark of the crape myrtle plant.

Refer to the description and images above to be sure you are dealing with crape myrtle bark scale. If you are still unsure, you can contact us for identification help as a last resort.

Inspection

Once you have confirmed that you are dealing with Crape Myrtle Bark Scale, you can then move forward with an inspection. During this phase, you will pinpoint the areas the Crape Myrtle Bark Scale is active so you know where to focus your pesticide applications.

Where To Inspect

Crape myrtle bark scale is quite easy to detect on a tree if you have a heavy infestation. Adult females look similar to felt and are colored either white or gray and they have encrustations that stick to crape myrtle parts ranging from small twigs to large trunks. When crushed, these scales exude pink liquid which apparently is their blood.

On new growth and in heavy infestations, the scales may be distributed more uniformly on a branch.

What To Look For

You may be first alerted of the presence of the black sooty mold which has developed on the bark as a result of the crape myrtle bark scale presence. Examining those sooty parts of the tree closely may tip you off to seeing the white CMBS crawling about.

Treatment

Before using any pesticides make sure you have proper personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, protective eyewear, safety mask on hand and ready to go.

As a new pest, Crape Myrtle Bark Scale is not specifically labeled on many insecticides like Dominion 2L. However, Dominion 2L contains imidacloprid and is a systemic insecticide which means the plant takes the product up into it and spreads through the whole foliage. That way piercing and sucking insects, such as aphids and scales, will be affected.

Step 1 - Hose down your tree

Using a hose, spray your crape myrtle plant down with water really heavily and let it dry to try to clean off the sooty mold created by the bark scale.

Step 2 - Measure and Mix Dominion 2L

Measure your Crape Myrtle tree trunk to determine how much Dominion 2L you will need to apply.

Generally, you will want to use 0.1 to 0.4 oz. (3 to 12 mL) of Dominion 2L per inch of trunk diameter. To treat the soil surrounding the tree you will want to use the basal system by spacing injection holes evenly around the base of the tree trunk no more than 6 to 12 inches out from the base. Do not use less than 4 holes per tree.

Put the water first in a bucket and then pour the product and fill the bucket the rest of the way with water and make sure it is agitated enough so it is a uniform solution.

Step 3 - Prep Treatment Area

Once you have measured the tree and mix the product, you should prep the ground prior to application. Start by raking the mulch, pulling it back and away from the tree. This is because you want the insecticide to make contact with the soil and be absorbed by the roots and if you got a good layer of mulch, the mulch can bind up the product. So just pull it back away from the trunk and once you have applied the product and it has dried you can rake the mulch back into place where it originally was.

Step 4 - Apply Dominion 2L 

After that, apply a mixture of the Dominion 2L to the tree. The way to apply the insecticide to the tree which we recommend is via soil drench. Take the mixed solution and pour the liquid around the base of the tree. Do it slowly so it doesn't run off. Again, you want the product to reach the roots and be absorbed by the plants, taking it up into its system and taking care of the crape myrtle bark scale pests.

Prevention

Maintaining a good lawn care routine and keeping a close eye on your tree for any changes will ensure that Crape Myrtle Bark Scale will stay away from your property. Proper mulching, watering, fertilizing and pruning can help to keep your crape myrtles healthy. You could also use the Dominion 2L mixture as a preventative treatment to keep CMBS from reestablishing on your tree.

Key Takeaways

What is Crape Myrtle Bark Scale?

• Crape Myrtle Bark Scale are small-scaled insects that are known to infest crape myrtle trees and interfere with productivity.

How to Get Rid of Crape Myrtle Bark Scale

• Treating Crape Myrtle Bark Scale will take a combination of Dominion 2L via soil drench around the tree.

Preventing Crape Myrtle Bark Scale

• Prevent the reestablishment of Crape Myrtle Bark Scale with regular maintenance tasks of pruning, mulching, fertilizing and watering your tree. You can also conduct preventative treatments of the Dominion 2L.