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Crape Myrtle Bark Scale is a recent (2004) invasive insect from Asia. It started in Texas and has moved into at least 11 other states and initially it is infesting only crape myrtles. In it’s native area it can infest a number of other plants, but right now it is mostly focused on crape myrtles.
CMBS is a small, white or gray insect (image 1). It is not a hard or soft scale, it is a bark or felt scale. They have a waxy coating and exude honeydew like soft scale. They will be found on the stems, large twigs, and trunks, rarely on foliage (image 2,3). One of the first signs seen is the black sooty mold (image 3 black areas) that is present from the large amounts of honeydew produced by the CMBS.
There may be many generations present at the same time and there can be 2 to 4 generations per year. Males are a winged insect that mates and dies and the female dies after she lays up to 250 eggs. The hatch in the spring and again in the summer. This stage is the crawler stage and they can stay on the same plant or move by the wind to other plants.
Control can be difficult and require multiple applications to ensure success. If the infestation is severe, it may take multiple applications.
First application is during November and/or March when the weather is above 45-degrees F. Use Ferti-lome Horticultural Oil RTS – easy to use Ready-to-Spray. Spray all of the trunks and branches very thoroughly and the oil will suffocate the insects. Next is to spray when the crawlers are out in late April or May. Follow up application 6-8 weeks later if needed. We suggest HY Bug Blaster II Lambda-Cy. Ready-to-Spray available, spray all of the trunks and branches very thoroughly.
The best application would be to use the FL Tree & Shrub Systemic Drench around April when they start to leaf out. Simply mix in a bucket and pour around the base of the plant. Remember, the shells from the scale will remain on the plant so you may not see that anything has happened, scrape some off on a white sheet of paper an crush them to see if they are dead.
–The Helpful Team at Ferti-lome
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