Invasive Species Alert: crapemyrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemia)
Crapemyrtle bark scale information
Crapemyrtle bark scale Fact Sheet (PDF)
Overview
Crapemyrtle bark scale is native to Asia and was detected in Texas in 2004. Infestations are scattered around the southern US. Primary hosts in the US are crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) and American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), but several other hosts have been identified in the US and Asia. Depending on climate, there are 2-4 generations per year.
Life Stages
Eggs are not easily seen, as females lay approximately 100-300 pink eggs inside their felt-like sac. Nymphs are tiny pink crawlers when young, older nymphs are pink, gray, or brown and 0.01-0.02 in (0.3-0.5 mm) long. Male nymphs develop into a white felt-like prepupa
then a pupa, 0.03-0.04 in (0.8-1 mm) long. Adult females are stationary and covered in a felt sac around their bodies, and are 0.04-0.11 in (1.1-2.9 mm) long and 0.02-0.07 in (0.6-1.8 mm) wide. Females only lay eggs once. Adult males are winged (alate), mobile, and rarely
seen. They are pink, have two long white filaments at the tip of the abdomen, and have no mouthparts.
More Info
Damage is mostly aesthetic. Looks very similar to the azalea bark scale, but azalea bark scale is not found on crapemyrtle.
Wildlife Economic Survey
UGA Marine Extension/Ga Sea Grant and Sapelo Island NERR are trying to evaluate the economic impact that wildlife viewing has for Coastal Ga through a 5-minute survey!
We are inviting you to participate in a study about non-game coastal wildlife recreation in Georgia. Non-game coastal wildlife are flora and fauna native to coastal Georgia that are not legally fished for, trapped, or hunted. Your responses will help guide the management of coastal wildlife habitats in Georgia.
This study is being conducted by University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in collaboration with Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (GA DNR WRD). The study is funded by GA DNR WRD.
Help us understand how you view wildlife in coastal Georgia: Direct Link to Wildlife Economic Survey