fungus on bark of trees in my yard - Ask Extension
I have fungus growing on the bark of several trees, Crape Myrtle, and shrubs in my yard. How do I get rid of it? Do I need to kill it? The two atta...
Knowledgebase
fungus on bark of trees in my yard #885553
Asked September 17, 2024, 11:41 AM EDT
I have fungus growing on the bark of several trees, Crape Myrtle, and shrubs in my yard. How do I get rid of it? Do I need to kill it? The two attached pictures are reprehensive of what it looks like.
Wicomico County Maryland
Expert Response
Unfortunately the photos weren't received...can you try attaching the files again? (Or, you can paste them into the body of your reply. Please have each photo be at least 1MB in size so we can see enough detail.)
We suspect you have Crapemyrtle Bark Scale, a pest becoming widespread in Maryland which feeds on Crapemyrtle by sucking up sap through the bark. The scale insects have a white covering over their bodies that, when abundant, might look fungal. There is also a black "sooty mold" fungus that grows on secretions from this insect and other pest (Crapemyrtle Aphid) which might be present. Sooty mold doesn't directly harm plants -- it doesn't infect them -- but can be an eyesore and hard to remove until it weathers off naturally in time. Once the scale and/or aphids are suppressed, the residue supporting sooty mold growth will abate and it will subside on its own.
Information about management options for the scale can be found in the linked page (it may involve pesticide use), though treatment of the aphids usually isn't necessary (and a pesticide used to manage the scale will usually also manage the aphids at the same time).
Miri
We suspect you have Crapemyrtle Bark Scale, a pest becoming widespread in Maryland which feeds on Crapemyrtle by sucking up sap through the bark. The scale insects have a white covering over their bodies that, when abundant, might look fungal. There is also a black "sooty mold" fungus that grows on secretions from this insect and other pest (Crapemyrtle Aphid) which might be present. Sooty mold doesn't directly harm plants -- it doesn't infect them -- but can be an eyesore and hard to remove until it weathers off naturally in time. Once the scale and/or aphids are suppressed, the residue supporting sooty mold growth will abate and it will subside on its own.
Information about management options for the scale can be found in the linked page (it may involve pesticide use), though treatment of the aphids usually isn't necessary (and a pesticide used to manage the scale will usually also manage the aphids at the same time).
Miri
On 09/17/2024 12:21 PM EDT Ask Extension wrote:
Thank you for the photos, they were very helpful because they do not show any scale (if they are present, they're not on this sample). What was pictured is lichen, a very common and harmless organism that does not need to be removed or treated, since it doesn't damage trees.
Miri
Miri
