Crapemyrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.), native to Southeast Asia, are popular ornamental flowering trees and shrubs. Introduced to the United States approximately 175 yr ago, crapemyrtle has become a dominant landscape plant across the southeastern United States. The diversity of flower colors, long-lasting summer blooms, showy exfoliating bark, fall foliage coloration, range of shapes and sizes, and resistance to many pests and diseases have made crapemyrtle a popular choice among landscapers and nursery growers. However, crapemyrtle production and landscapes are increasingly impacted by pests such as crapemyrtle aphid (Sarucallis kahawaluokalani Kirkaldy) and crapemyrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae Kuwana), and diseases like powdery mildew (Erysiphe lagerstroemiae West and E. australiana McAlpine) and cercospora leaf spot (Pseudocercospora lythracearum Heald & F. A. Wolf) that reduce aesthetic value and salability of crapemyrtle. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the biology, distribution, damage symptoms, and integrated pest and disease management strategies for major pests and diseases of crapemyrtle in the United States. Emphasis is placed on practical and tested management approaches, including cultural practices, host plant resistance, biological control, and judicious use of registered insecticides and fungicides. The information presented will directly benefit green industry professionals, landscapers, and nursery growers involved in the cultivation and maintenance of crapemyrtle in both production and landscape settings. Future research should prioritize developing resistant cultivars and environmentally sustainable pest and disease management approaches.
Dhakal et al. (Thu,) studied this question.