Barklice on Crape Myrtle: Harmless Clean-Up Crews

Those Weird Webby Clusters on Your Crape Myrtle Trunks

If you've found silky, web-like masses on your crape myrtle bark with tiny insects underneath, you're seeing barklice (Archipsocus nomas), also called psocids or tree cattle. Despite the dramatic appearance, they cause no harm.

What They Do

• Feed on algae, fungi, lichens, dead bark, and organic debris
• Produce fine silk webbing for protection
• Often form large, conspicuous colonies on smooth-barked trees
• Population peaks in late summer/fall

No Control Needed

Barklice are beneficial scavengers. Their webbing weathers away naturally. Spraying insecticides harms predators and is unnecessary. Simply ignore them—or appreciate the free bark cleaning service.