Lagerstroemia, commonly known as crape myrtle (also spelled crepe myrtle or crêpe myrtle), is a genus of around 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs native to the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, northern Australia, and other parts of Oceania, cultivated in warmer climates around the world. It is a member of the family Lythraceae, which is also known as the loosestrife family. These flowering trees are beautifully colored and are often planted both privately and commercially as ornamentals.
Diseases Affecting Crape Myrtle
Insects Affecting Crape Myrtle
Spotted Lantern Fly
Lycorma delicatula, commonly known as the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), is a new invasive insect that has spread throughout southeastern Pennsylvania since its discovery in Berks County in 2014. SLF presents a significant threat to Pennsylvania agriculture, including the grape, tree-fruit, hardwood and nursery industries, which collectively are worth nearly $18 billion to the state’s economy.
Japanese Beetle
Japanese beetle adults have metallic green bodies with coppery brown wing covers surrounded with 12 white tufts of hair.
Affected Species:
Crape Myrtle Bark Scale
Crape myrtle bark scale is a felt scale related to azalea bark scale and oak eriococcin scale. They feed on phloem like other “soft scales”, thus the honeydew.
Affected Species:
Crape Myrtle Aphid
Crape myrtles are among the most commonly planted trees in the Southeast. The two main pests are crape myrtle bark scale , which was covered recently, and crape myrtle aphid.
Affected Species:
Please give us a call if you have any questions about your trees and shrubs or would like to schedule an appointment for us to walk your property.
610.525.1562
