Crapemyrtle Bark Scale. Keep our food, fiber and fuel supplies safe from disaster. Learn to ID unwanted plant and animal visitors. It is suspected that Most gardeners will be alerted to a problem when they see there is a sooty mold substance on the trees. Adult females are felt-like white or gray encrustations that stick to crape myrtle parts ranging from small twigs to large trunks. If you live in the Mid-South, you most likely have a crepe myrtle in your yard or … A&M has identified this pest as Eriococcus lagerstroemiae, and suspects that it was brought into the U.S. on a crape myrtle plant. Crapemyrtle Insects A new, and serious insect was discovered in Arkansas in 2014. Thousands of scales encrusting the bark will literally turn it white. The eggs remain protected within the white colored ovisacs until the crawlers (immatures) hatch and disperse onto the branches. Most new infestations have been found in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Since then, it spread rapidly. First seen in Northern Texas back in 2004, the Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (CMBS) has now arrived in Arkansas.This pest has been spreading across the Southeast at an alarming rate from Texas and into Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee and, finally, Arkansas. Crapemyrtle Bark Scale in Arkansas. It looks like a white speck stuck to the bark of a trunk or branch. Research-based connection to government and policy issues. Adult females produce a white, felt-like sac around their bodies and lay approximately 100 to 300 pink eggs inside this sac. Explore our research locations around the state. Wherever this honeydew lands, the stems, leaves is accompanied with white specks on the trunks or branches, that is the crape myrtle Crape myrtle bark scale is a relatively recent pest that is affecting crepe myrtle trees in a growing area across the southeastern United States. If you are just now spotting black sooty mold on your crape myrtle trees you can clean If that sooty mold ... Arkansas Gardens (Arkansas Garden Center) is a full service locally owned and operated nursery located at 9511 Hwy 107 (JFK) in Sherwood, under continuous operation since 1957. Specialty crops including turfgrass, vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals. Crape myrtle bark scale is relatively easy to iden- tify. Look at this map to find your county and please take a picture of the tree with symptoms and/or a sample in to your local county extension office. Licensing for forestry and wildlife professionals. If left undetected or untreated, the CMBS will spread rapidly. When crushed, these scales exude pink “blood”-like liquid. Crape myrtle bark scale appears as white specks on the trunk. had spread throughout most of the Dallas-Fort Worth area by 2010. Commercial row crop production in Arkansas. Farm bill, farm marketing, agribusiness webinars, & farm policy. On new growth and in heavy infestations, the scales may be distributed more uniformly on the branch (Figs. Ask our experts plant, animal, or insect questions. No need to remove your trees if you suspect infestation. Coaxing the best produce from asparagus to zucchini. This sooty mold  grows on a by-product Careful Crapemyrtle bark scales build shells over themselves so normal insecticides won’t kill them. The female’s body shrinks as eggs are pro-duced. CMBS might be found anywhere on crepe myrtles bark, and often appears near pruning sites and branch crotches of more mature wood. problem—but do monitor all the crape myrtles in your yard. They have gray-to-white felt coating and the insects stick to crape myrtle parts ranging from small twigs to large trunks. Crape myrtle bark scale, Eriococcus lagerstroemiae, belongs to a special group of scale insects known as felt scales. It is one of the only scales known to infest crape myrtles. Since the initial sighting in 2004, the insect has been spreading at an alarming rate across the Southeast. When crushed, these scales exude pink “blood”-like liquid. kill many of the crawlers and adults, but won’t kill them all. Crape myrtle bark scale insects are so densely packed onto this slender branch of crape myrtle that the best solution is to prune it off the tree.Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JOHN SYKES JR. … Crape myrtle bark scale is easy to identify because it’s the only scale insect that infests crape myrtles. h�2�P0P0�T0�T����+�-�� �b��B��.vv ��� (John Sykes Jr.) The University … Based on regional climates in the U.S., scientists have generated predictions of where this insect may spread. eggs or crawlers under some of the larger white scale covers. The scale will NOT kill your trees but they reduce the amount and size of the blooms The scale is a sucking insect that feeds on the phloem (sap) of plants. Introduced from China into the United States in 1747, they became even more common with the introduction of the Japanese crape myrtle in the 1950’s. Crepe Myrtles (also spelled Crepemyrtle, Crapemyrtle or Crape Myrtle) are tough, deciduous, summer blooming trees. Equipping individuals to lead organizations, communities, and regions. The clinic can help. of sucking insects including scale and aphids. in McKinney, Texas (self-designated as America’s “crapemyrtle city”), in 2005 and Retired after 38 years with the University of Arkansas … Soil quality and its use here in Arkansas. Currently called ‘crapemyrtle bark scale’, this aggressive insect pest causes significant aesthetic issues for crapemyrtles. The small CMBS males are winged and will fly to find females and to mate. h�21P0P���w�/�+Q0���L)�61 bark scale, and is cause for action. the easier and quicker the problem can be solved. CMBS might be able to overwinter in the adult female and egg life stages, and crawlers and later stage nymphs have been observed overwintering under the loose bark and in cracks and crevices of crapemyrtles in our area. iFZ�6+ӘV��-醆tM"��4�Oz�s��O�Pd+A��A��|�c�9��2c&��8�v���cݶq�+�5����A( f���⇑�$]\M��G2|�y0t��0�w�e(�F�\F�u��[uP�S��[��&OR�QA���%�`��Sj;�? This should If you get up close or use a magnifying glass, you It is one of the only scales known to infest crape myrtles. In addition to the colorful blooms, Crepe Myrtles provide winter interest through the bark, which may be smooth and pale or cinnamon colored and exfoliating. It’s important to keep a close eye on your crape myrtles. It has only been found on crape myrtles and American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) in the US, but has been found on other species outside the US. Get beekeeping, honey production, and class information. Making sound choices for families and ourselves. It is currently the only bark scale known to feed on crape myrtle in the US. Pick up know-how for tackling diseases, pests and weeds. At that time we speculated that it was a newly introduced species of Eriocccid scale from Asia called crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS). Featured trees, vines, shrubs and flowers. Heavy infestations of crape myrtle aphids can also cause trees to be covered with black sooty mold, but any crape myrtle that is covered with sooty mold should be carefully ex… Bark scale originates from China and was brought to the U.S. in 2010. The Issue: Do you have crape myrtle bark scale? They are unmistakable as thousands of little bugs. will result in white crusted clusters of insects which may blanket small stems and Crapemyrtles, hydrangeas, hort glossary, and weed ID databases. Crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS) is a relatively new insect found principally on crapemyrtles (Lagerstroemia) across the Southeast. Th… Crape myrtle bark scale is an introduced insect pest from Asia, and it has a great affinity for crape myrtle trees. The problem usually goes unnoticed until plants begin turning black with a fungus called sooty mold when it begins to grow on insect droppings. Heavy infestations of crapemyrtle bark scale produce sufficient honeydew to coat leaves, stems and bark of the tree. Do not put them in a compost pile, or put them out on the curb for yard-waste pick-up. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service last year began urging homeowners to keep an eye out for a new pest. Guiding entrepreneurs from concept to profit. The crapemyrtle bark scale, drips honeydew, turns bark black, and reduces blooming on crapemyrtle. Native to Asia, the crape scale bark scale first was reported in the United States during 2004 on crape myrtles in a landscape plant nursery in Richardson, Texas (Dallas County). As these insects feed, they give off Since 2013, in the city of Germantown, there has been a suspicious decrease in the health and appearance of one of the South’s ubiquitous flowering tree species, the crepe myrtle. Gaining garden smarts and sharing skills. Hands-on activities in an outdoor setting. There is no need to do preventative treatment, so only treat a tree that has the insect Up close, CMBS is white to gray in color and approximately 2 mm in length. Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale (let’s call it CMBS) is a small insect that appears as a white or gray felt-like encrustation. damage and not spreading. Click for a hub of Extension resources related to the current COVID-19 situation. . Instead, double bag the cuttings and put them in your regular trash pickup. 411 0 obj <>stream Increase your knowledge of public issues & get involved. )�I�D��T��$���� �.V scale covers. Heavy infestations of crape myrtle bark scale are easy to spot and identify. (60 miles southwest Most gardeners will be alerted to CMBS by black sooty mold which appears on the bark Crape myrtle bark scale is easy to identify because it’s the only scale insect that infests crape myrtles. Since first detected in Texas in 2004, this pest has spread to 12 states, including Arkansas, … This is due to what is known as CMBS (Crapemyrtle Bark Scale). Many people who call us describe their trees as covered in white dots, or white cotton like bumps. examination may reveal dozens of pink eggs or crawlers under some of the larger white Crepe myrtle scale arrived here a few years ago as an accidental import from Asia. This video shows homeowners how to treat the scale and make their trees look good again. Herbs, native plants, & reference desk QA. The crape myrtle bark scale, Eriococcus lagerstroemiae Kuwana, is a newly introduced insect pest of crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia spp. of New Orleans) in 2013. Send our experts a photo    and ask for their advice. endstream endobj 412 0 obj <>stream Our programs include aquaculture, diagnostics, and energy conservation. Adult females are felt-like white or gray encrustations that stick to crape myrtle parts ranging from small twigs to large trunks. The crape myrtle bark scale was first noticed in a Dallas suburb in 2004 and started its northern migration, spreading quickly across the South. What was once considered a plant-and-forget-it plant now has a new insect wreaking havoc. Use virtual and real tools to improve critical calculations for farms and ranches. Up close, CMBS is whit… Private, Commercial & Non-commercial training and education. associated with a significant aphid problem. As of spring 2018, crapemyrtle bark scale was reported in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Bark Scale along the branch of a Crape Myrtle. The presence of sooty mold may confuse the diagnosis since that is also commonly Nashville, Ark. crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS). Imports of crapemyrtle to … hެ�[O�F�A��rS����$��Kj;@��g��M��/`��׷��ێ�4�Lw��1Kg��t�t��s9��e�ɸk1�a��0Ocn��[���x�a1]S�u`1n�\��ewt��uE&}fsl�ȃ$�n(�k�W�2�(n�����a&q0d:�:��lȴ?5N׻�����|��\R�)����k�t�������7��O�~��e�N6�q�ݥ��\�`���V"���w�6b.�; �HRFSJ��iB)-ȧ3z��.hN[ As with most insects, there are several life stages and the appearance of CMBS changes with the stages. b����-%��D����U�r��`W�U��`}��\�Zğ@��U*%-�mJ�|��'��Q. In a perfect world, burning the debris would be the best way to eradicate the pest, Providing unbiased information to enable educated votes on critical issues. %PDF-1.6 %���� The insect was first noted in McKinney, Texas (self-designated as America’s “crapemyrtle city”), in 2005 and had spread throughout most of the Dallas-Fort Worth area by … Once the mated females produce their ovisacs (egg-containing capsules) and lay eggs, they die. The insect was first noted If you have small limbs which are heavily infested prune them off and dispose of them. Then treat with a systemic insecticide in. The Issue: Do you have crape myrtle bark scale? Learn more from our fact sheet Crapemyrtle Bark Scale: A New Insect Pest – FSA7086. off the trunk with warm, soapy water to remove the black sooty mold. Eggs hatch into tiny pink crawlers, and the older Expanding your business by learning the language of government contracting. Since the initial sighting in 2004, the crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS) insect has been spreading at an alarming rate across the Southeast. If you are just now spotting the problem, you can clean off the trunk with warm, soapy Often times, the first sign of CMBS is the black sooty mold on the tree bark. They have gray-to-white felt coating and the insects stick to crape myrtle parts ranging from small twigs to large trunks. endstream endobj 413 0 obj <>stream 2016). most effective when applied in late winter/early spring. The crapemyrtle bark scale, Acanthococcus (=Eriococcus) lagerstromiae(Kuwana), was first confirmed in the USA in 2004 in the landscape near Dallas (TX), although it was likely introduced earlier. These crape myrtles are more cold hardy, resistant to powdery mildew, and have a reddish-brown bark … Left exposed in an open truck or put on the curb for yard waste pickup leads to a Bloom color and bark characteristics as well as growth habit are species and variety specific.... Read more » but unfortunately we can’t burn refuse in the city. Systemic insecticides work very well to control the bark scale, but the timing is – Now is a great time to check the health of your Crapemyrtles. Known scientifically as Acanthococcus (=Eriococcus) lagerstroemiae (Kuwana), it is a member of the bark or felt scale family (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae). However, treatment is necessary. Today, thanks to help from researchers from the University of Arkansas and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection service, we are a little closer to confirming those suspicions. ... Arkansas Gardens (Arkansas Garden Center) is a full service locally owned and operated nursery located at 9511 Hwy 107 (JFK) in Sherwood, under continuous operation since 1957. Check it out. A French mulberry or beautyberry — Callicarpa americana — is normally a pretty tough native plant, but it is a recognized host of the crape myrtle bark scale. Maintenance calendar, and best practices. Preparing for and recovering from disasters. The scale was reported It’s important to keep a close eye on your crape myrtles. A heavy infestation possibility that the millions of tiny crawlers could be easily spread to neighboring and the sooty mold makes them less attractive. What’s wrong with my plants? properties, thus accelerating the spread of this invasive insect. Crape myrtle bark scale is relatively easy to identify. The sooner you can catch the problem, They suck sap from the tree and then drip sticky honeydew on leaves and branches on which sooty mold grows. and trunk get very sticky and then a black sooty mold will form. Be aware, once the insects die, they will still be on the plant, but no longer causing will see that the adult is white to gray in color and there may be dozens of pink Crape myrtle bark scale is an insect pest of crape myrtle, one of the most popular flowering shrubs in the U.S. Using this information, north Florida is at a moderate to high risk of becoming infested (Wang et al. They are unmistakable as thousands of little bugs. 4 through 6). L. (Myrtales: Lythraceae) (Figure 1). Crape myrtles are a common sight in East Texas. White Scale on Crepe Myrtles Treatment for crape myrtle bark scale begins with scrubbing the black sooty mold off the trunk with warm soapy water. Guiding communities and regions toward vibrant and sustainable futures. This honeydew, in t… According to Texas AgriLife Extension, this harmful pest is newly introduced from the Far East. As it feeds, it excretes a sugary solution known as “honeydew” (similar to aphids, whiteflies, and other sucking insects). a sweet substance called honeydew. Once all the leaves have fallen, saturate the tree with a dormant oil. been spreading at an alarming rate across the Southeast. Sooty mold alone is not a definite indication of CMBS, but if you also find white, felt-covered scales that bleed pink when punctured, you can be sure you have found crape myrtle bark scale. Crape myrtle bark scale is showing up all across the southern half of Arkansas and now may be moving northward. Black sooty mold can form on the trunks and leaves. Native to Asia, CMBS was first noticed in a north Dallas, Texas, suburb in 2004. water to remove the black sooty mold. In one year, there could be at least two generations of CMBS. Since the initial sighting in 2004, the crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS) insect has be quite visible on the trunks. It's easy to spot. What else do you need to know? To date we’ve not been able to show any crape myrtle tree death as a result of a bark scale infestation. Controlling them requires a two-step approach each year. Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale. Each female lays about 60 to 250 eggs, which may over-winter within their ovisacs, and then hatch during mid- to late April to May. in Ardmore, Okla., and Shreveport, La., in 2012 and Houma, La. Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food & Life Sciences. 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