Crapemyrtle is one of the few trees that blooms throughout most of the summer. It has become a popular landscape plant for that reason and because it is relatively pestfree. Not anymore. A new exotic pest, called the crapemyrtle bark scale, drips honeydew, turns bark black, and reduces blooming. This video shows homeowners how to treat the scale and make their trees look good again.

For gardeners concerned with the impact of these pesticides on bees and other pollinators, such concerns have been weighed before publishing these recommendations. Our research team has looked at soap washes and horticultural oil treatments, neither of which provided any significant control in repeated trials.

The neonicotinoid insecticide recommended in this video has recently been shown capable of reaching pollen of crapemyrtle trees (in small amounts) through the roots and vascular system of the tree (crapemyrtles do not produce nectar). This is of concern, though crapemyrtles are not highly attractive to bees when other pollen sources are available.

At the time of production of this video, we believed that the impact of the relatively few trees treated with imidacloprid would likely have a minimal impact on honey bee colonies and other solitary bees. Researchers continue to look for alternatives to these products until and unless definitive evidence shows these treatments pose significant harm to your landscape's beneficial insects.

If you find that handwashing or spraying with water and/or soaps provides sufficient control to keep your trees sufficiently attractive, we applaud you. Anytime pest control can be accomplished without resorting to a longlived chemical, it is a good thing.