What Is Eating My Crepe Myrtle? [4 Common Pests]

Crepe myrtles are known for their long bloom which provides colourful flower all summertime long . However , if you ’ve noticed your crepe Vinca minor is n’t looking quite as chipper as it used to , you may have a pest that is chowing down on your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . So , what might be eating your crepe Vinca minor ? Well , we ’ve researched the topic in profoundness and have a list of the most uncouth pest that might be deplete your tree .

Common pests that eat on crepe paper myrtles are :

Now you know four common pests you might encounter wipe out your crepe paper Vinca minor , but keep read as we elaborate on each one . We will talk over how to key out each one and what you could do to prevent them from destroying your tree . We ’ll also serve some additional inquiry you might have about your crepe myrtle including how to identify if it is dying .

Pests That Eat Crepe Myrtles

Before we discourse each pest that may be eat your crepe Vinca minor , it ’s important to verify that the harm you are seeing is a result of a pest eating your tree and not some other issue .

If you are seeing far-flung damage to your tree ’s leaves , you in all probability have a pest that ’s deplete them . However , if it seems total leave of absence are being eaten while others are unmoved , you may have a different problem .

Crepe Myrtle Aphids

you could identify whether your crepe Vinca minor has an aphid plague by simply take a look at your tree . Crepe myrtle aphids , ( Tinocallis kahawaluokalani)are yellowish - green .

You will also be able-bodied to seeblack spotson their abdomen . aphid fertilize on plant tomfool which they hit through the crepe Vinca minor ’s leaf , but when they do , they inject saliva . This spit can induce lily-livered spots on the leaves .

In addition to the yellow touch on the tree diagram ’s leaves , you may also key out an aphid infestation by black - distort leave-taking . When aphids consume sap , they then excrete honeydew melon .

This pasty substance is a great place for pitchy mold to develop . While sooty mould and honeydew wo n’t really harm your tree , they can make it face unsightly .

Japanese Beetles

Unlike crepe Vinca minor aphids , Japanese mallet ( Popillia japonica ) , are n’t just find on crepe myrtle . They are n’t too picky when it comes to plants they will feed on . So if you have any other works in your garden , you should check those too .

They are also pretty easy to distinguish by their appearance . Japanese beetles have copper - color in body and wings and light-green heads . The mallet will eat the tissue of the leaf between its veins which leaves a net looking at to the leaves , just like in the persona above .

Crepe Myrtle Flea Beetles

Like the Nipponese mallet , crepe myrtle flea beetle ( Altica litigata ) will also deplete the leaves of your crape Vinca minor , lead irregularly shaped gob . However , only the grownup beetles will do this .

For some ground , the chow will not . The flea beetles areso callednot because of their appearance but their ability to move and jump like a flea . They can be avarietyof colour include smuggled , brown , bronze , metal gray , or even bluish . Long , hard legs give up them to spring from position to plaza .

Spider Mites

Unlike the other pests we mentioned , spider mites are much harder to see . Instead , you will have to identify an plague by the damage they have and the webs they leave behind .

They will damage your crepe myrtle ’s foliage by exhaust the leaf . You ’ll acknowledge small lite dot on your leaves , and if give long enough , the leave may wrick crimson . Spider mites are also not exclusive to crepe myrtle , so you may see them on other plants .

How do you get rid of crepe myrtle bugs?

Once you ’ve identified the eccentric of pest you have eating your crepe myrtle tree , you now necessitate to know how to get rid of them . Let ’s talk about some methods for each character of plague .

aphid can be a tricky pest to dish out with . They reproduce easy and chop-chop , so if you do n’t get disembarrass of them all on your first attempt , you will likely still face problems with them .

Aphids can sometimes be apportion with using a heavy flow of water . strain spray the undersurface of the leaves to remove the aphids . Just verify you get them all .

Other choice let in release ladybeetle which can sometimes be corrupt at greenhouse , or you’re able to apply insecticides . Ladybugs are rude predators of aphids , however , for a large tree diagram , you will want asignificant amountof ladybugs to combat the aphid .

Another aphid - eat predator isaphidoleteswhich can also be purchased and release .

You should treat your plant for Japanese beetles as soon as you notice them . Getting forrader of the infestation is key to controlling and preventing further infestations .

Both neem oil and pyrethrin are highlyrecommendedfor combating Japanese beetles . you may also try removing the beetles by deal and dropping them into soapy water to kill them .

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Flea beetles can also be treated likewise to Japanese beetles with neem oil and pyrethrin . Sticky traps may also be useful .

Once you ’ve got rid of the infestation , it ’s important to take steps to preclude future infestation . Flea mallet can be repulse by certain plants such as catnip and St. Basil the Great , so consider localise some of these around your garden .

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Again , neem oil can be in force in killing wanderer mite . Spider mites can also be killed on link with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and H2O .

utilize a spray nursing bottle to souse the works . You will involve to spray both face of the leave of absence which could be boring if you have a large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Complete the summons by wiping the leaf with a paper towel or cloth .

What else might be damaging my crepe myrtle?

Pests are n’t the only issue you might be have with your crepe myrtle . If you ca n’t identify any of the pestis we mentioned above , it may be time to consider other possibilities .

Disease and fungous infections could be the causal agency of wrong to your crepe Vinca minor . The most common fungal infection ispowdery mildew . This presents itself as patches of white or grey growth on the plant .

Another fungous infection that might be to pick is Cercospora leaf spot . This can be identified by yellow , cherry , or brown smirch on the foliage of the tree diagram . Both diseases can be treated with a fungicide , but be sure to choose one that is safe for crepe paper Vinca minor .

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How do you know when a crepe myrtle is dying?

During the winter , your crepe myrtle may come out to be bushed , but this is often not the case . you could tell whether your crepe paper myrtle is dead or dying by execute a scratch trial run .

Gently scrape up away part of the tree ’s barque . If the area underneath is gullible , your plant is awake and levelheaded . Your tree diagram might not start blooming until late June , but if you do n’t see any blooms by then , your tree might be die .

How do I save my crepe myrtle?

In purchase order to preserve your crepe myrtle , you will need to diagnose what is toss off your works and treat it accordingly .

For example , if it has a pest or fungal trouble , you will need to try and free the tree of it first . If most of your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is already numb but you’re able to still see unripened shoots around part of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , you’re able to try contract away any dead parts of the tree . The green shoot should continue to grow .

What is the lifespan of a crepe myrtle?

If taken care of and kept in the right term , your crepe Vinca minor could live on upwards of 50 years . If you have n’t yet planted a crepe myrtle and you are considering it , be sure to place it in a location with full sunlight .

Once implant , check that the territory is fertile and you are keeping an optic out for any potential problems that might cause hurt to your tree diagram . By staying on top of any fungal or pest infestations , you will keep your crepe myrtle alive for many years to issue forth .

Final Thoughts

Now you know about four common pests you might observe chomping on your crape Vinca minor . Hopefully , our clause has helped you diagnose which cuss is cause your trouble . If your tree has n’t been invade yet , then hopefully our clause has at least prepared you on what to look out for . Happy ontogenesis !

For more meter reading on the issue , tally out some of our other web log posts below :

How Big Does A Crepe Myrtle Get ?

How Long Do Crepe Myrtle Trees Live ?