Crapemyrtle bark scale has been spreading through Metro Atlanta landscapes over the past few summers, and it's easy to miss until a tree is covered in the telltale black sooty mold that comes with an infestation. Crapemyrtles are one of the most common ornamental trees in the area, which makes this pest worth knowing about.
The scale insects themselves look like small white or gray bumps along the bark, but the bigger giveaway is often the black, sooty coating that grows on the sugary residue the insects leave behind. It doesn't kill the tree quickly, but a heavy infestation weakens it and makes the tree look neglected even when it's otherwise healthy.
If your crapemyrtles have looked a little grimy or dull this summer, it's worth checking the bark closely rather than assuming it's just dust or pollution buildup.
Have you noticed anything unusual on the bark of your crapemyrtles this year?
#CrapemyrtleBarkScale #TreeHealth
A real close-up photo of crapemyrtle bark showing scale insects or sooty mold from an actual property visit. Authentic photos build more credibility than stock tree imagery for this kind of educational post.
Canva text suggestion: "That Sooty Bark Isn't Dirt" or "Crapemyrtle Bark Scale Is Spreading in Metro Atlanta"