Crepe Myrtle Borers in Georgia: Contact Extension for Spray Timing

Sawdust threads on a dead crepe myrtle trunk with signs of burrowing on live trunks indicate wood-boring beetles (likely Asian ambrosia beetle or crepe myrtle borer).

Critical: Timing Is Everything

• Insecticide sprays only work when adults are active and laying eggs.
• Timing varies by species, location, and year (temperature-dependent).
• Contact your County Extension office (extension.org) — they track local emergence and give exact spray dates.
• A local nursery with a certified arborist may also have current info.

Systemic Option

Soil drench with imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub) applied at bud break can protect uninfested trunks, but won't save the dead one.

Action

1. Call/email your Extension agent this week.
2. Ask for "crepe myrtle borer spray timing for [your county]."
3. Follow their protocol exactly.

Don't guess. Wrong timing = wasted money, dead trees.