The ants won't hurt your tree, but they harbor aphid eggs. The aphids
Aphid
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in colour. The group includes the fluffy white woolly aphids. A typical life cycle involves flightless fem…
Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae or the myrtle family is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pohutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca, allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All species are woody, contain essential oils, and have flower pa…
Why are there ants in my crepe myrtle tree?
Fire ants are extremely aggressive creatures when disturbed. Ants traveling in and out of a crape myrtle tree or bush are normally interested not in the crape myrtle itself but in a sweet, sticky substance called honeydew.
Why are crepe myrtles so hard to kill?
Crape myrtles have a shallow root system. This further complicates herbicidal treatments, because shallow-rooted plants are more easily affected by herbicides than deep-rooted plants. The herbicides don't have to leech into the soil as far before the roots suck up the chemicals.
What are the little green bugs on my crepe myrtle?
Crepe myrtle aphids. Of all the possible insects to have on your plants, these are the easiest when it comes to crepe myrtle pest control. If you turn over your crepe myrtle leaves, you’ll see lots of small, soft-bodied yellow-green insects feeding – these are the crepe myrtle aphids.
Are crepe myrtles good for landscaping?
Crepe myrtles are iconic plants of the South, popping up virtually everywhere in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 9. They’re sturdy and beautiful. They make excellent large landscape bushes or can be pruned into a tree form, adding even more versatility. Because of their flexible nature, crepe myrtle trees are bothered by very few problems or pests.
How do I keep ants off my crepe myrtle?
Spray the tree or shrub thoroughly two or three times per week until the insect population is reduced. This may also wash some honeydew off the crape myrtle. Try winding a sticky tape or insect barrier around the crape myrtle's lower trunk to keep ants from climbing into the canopy.
Are ants attracted to crepe myrtles?
A: Crape myrtles are commonly afflicted with aphids in the fall. These insects suck sap from leaves and then excrete a sweet honeydew that ants like.
What is eating the leaves on my crepe myrtle?
In South Carolina, the most common insect pest is the crape myrtle aphid (Sarucallis kahawaluokalani), found on the leaves and twigs of crape myrtle. Crape myrtle aphids feed only on crape myrtle trees. Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is also a pest and feeds on both leaves and flowers.
What insects are attracted to crepe myrtles?
Crape myrtles attract aphids, Japanese beetles and primrose flea beetles. Plants are susceptible to fungi that lead to powdery mildew and sooty mold.
What can I spray on my crepe myrtle?
1:452:55How do I control black mold and aphids on my Crape Myrtles?YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what we'll do with this plant is we'll treat it with a combination of bifenthrin. AndMoreSo what we'll do with this plant is we'll treat it with a combination of bifenthrin. And imidacloprid bifenthrin is going to get the contact kill as you can see the white pest on the back of these
How do you take care of a crape myrtle tree?
How to Care for Crape MyrtleFind Full Sunlight. Crape myrtle needs full sun (6 or more hours per day) to thrive. ... Use Suitable Soil. ... Fertilize Lightly. ... Treat Fungus Before It Starts. ... Prune Sparingly in Winter or Early Spring. ... Expose the Trunk for More Beauty. ... Deadhead for Even More Flowers.
What is the black stuff on my crepe myrtle?
Black sooty mold is actually an airborne fungi spore that latches on to the sweet sticky honeydew secreted by leaf and bark feeding insects. On Crepe Myrtles and most other plants the culprit here is either sap sucking Aphids or Bark sucking Scale.
What happens if you don't prune crepe myrtles?
Leaving it alone will result in a pretty raggedy-looking tree, and it won't grow as quickly either. The new growth will emerge on its own from the fresh cuts, and if you trim at just the right point, you'll encourage way more blooms to appear.
Why are the leaves on my crepe myrtle turning brown?
If you are seeing brown leaves on your crepe myrtle plant in the spring, it could be due to your area experiencing a cold snap. Crepe myrtle is not as tolerant of cold weather as many bushes are. An untimely drop in temperature after the tender leaves have made their appearance can spell death for them.
Why are crepe myrtle leaves turning yellow?
Most commonly, drought or a lack of moisture will cause crepe myrtles leaves to yellow and prematurely fall. What is this? Your plant might also have a bacterial disease or fungus, which will also start as yellowing foliage. This is also known as 'leaf scorch' and tends to affect crepe myrtles during the summertime.
What animals do crepe myrtles attract?
Beneficial insects visiting your crape myrtle, from bees to wasps, are attracted to both the bright flowers and honeydew residue left from aphid activity. Combining both nectar and honeydew food sources attracts more pollinators for increased pollination success.
What animal eats crepe myrtles?
Goldfinches, dark-eyed juncos, house finches, cardinals, and house and white-throated sparrows visit the trees continually from early December through late February to devour the abundant seed crop that crape myrtles provide.
Where do aphids hide on myrtles?
Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7a through 9a, they are vulnerable to aphid damage. These pests typically hide on the undersides of the leaves so they are less visible to predators.
What do aphids eat?
The aphids feed on cell sap by extracting it through their stylet mouthpiece like a hypodermic needle. Among numerous aphid species, the crape myrtle aphid (Tinocallis, or Sarucallis, kahawaluokalani [Kirkaldy]) is the only one that feeds on crape myrtles.
Do ants deter crape myrtles?
The predators that the ants deter are beneficial insects that eat aphids and help protect crape myrtles from the feeding damage the aphids inflict.
Do ants mate with aphids?
These eggs overwinter until the following spring, when the life cycle begins again. The protection that ants offer, coupled with the prolific reproductive capabilities of aphids, is a double whammy to the health ...
Do ants and aphids have mutualism?
Ants form an unusual partnership with aphids from which they both benefit -- a phenomenon called mutualism. The protection that ants offer, coupled with the prolific reproductive capabilities of aphids, is a double whammy to the health of crape myrtles.
What are the aphids on my crepe myrtle?
Crepe myrtle aphids. Of all the possible insects to have on your plants, these are the easiest when it comes to crepe myrtle pest control. If you turn over your crepe myrtle leaves, you’ll see lots of small, soft-bodied yellow-green insects feeding – these are the crepe myrtle aphids. You might also notice that the leaves are sticky ...
How to treat crepe myrtle?
Treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil for best results, but wait until evening to apply either or use a shade to protect your plant from potential burns. Scale. Scale insects hardly look like insects at all and may instead appear to be cottony or waxy growths on your crepe myrtle.
What zone do crepe myrtles grow in?
Crepe myrtles are iconic plants of the South, popping up virtually everywhere in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 9. They’re sturdy and beautiful. They make excellent large landscape bushes or can be pruned into a tree form, adding even more versatility.
Is Neem oil good for scale insects?
They’re closely related to aphids, but because of the protective barrier, they’ll need stronger stuff. Neem oil is particularly effective for most scale insects. Japanese beetle. These shiny green-black beetles are as unmistakable as they are frustrating to try to treat.
Do crepe myrtles have pests?
Because of their flexible nature, crepe myrtle trees are bothered by very few problems or pests. Even so, there may come a day when you’re forced to do battle with pests on crepe myrtle, so let’s explore those right now!
Is crape myrtle a weed killer?
Dangers to Crape Myrtles: Weed Killers. Colorful crape myrtles add a bit of zest to your yard, whether you use them as a shrub or small tree. But applications of herbicides in an effort to combat weeds may adversely affect the plant's growth habit, foliage and flowers. Using an alternative method to control weeds, ...
Can you use weed killer on crape myrtle?
If you must use weed killers, use selective herbicides that target specific weeds and do little to no damage to your crape myrtle. Located in Pittsburgh, Chris Miksen has been writing instructional articles on a wide range of topics for online publications since 2007. He currently owns and operates a vending business.
Can you use nonselective herbicide on crape myrtles?
They're extremely effective at killing stubborn weeds, but they also pose significant danger to crape myrtles if the plants are close to the application site. As a general rule, don't use nonselective herbicides anywhere near crape myrtles, and never use them on a windy day.
Do crape myrtles have shallow roots?
Shallow Roots and Other Concerns. Crape myrtles have a shallow root system. This further complicates herbicidal treatments, because shallow-rooted plants are more easily affected by herbicides than deep-rooted plants. The herbicides don't have to leech into the soil as far before the roots suck up the chemicals.
