Japanese Beetle Damage on Crepe Myrtles: Systemic Solution

Diagnosis

Leaves eaten high in the canopy with no visible bugs in North Texas suggest Japanese beetles. They feed at night/early morning, skeletonizing leaves from top down.

Effective Treatment

Contact sprays fail because beetles hide. Use a systemic soil drench: Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed (imidacloprid + fertilizer). It moves into the tree, killing beetles and other pests (scale, aphids, mealybugs) for up to a year. Available at Walmart, Target, garden centers.

Application

Follow label rates based on trunk diameter. Apply now for current season protection. Reapply annually in spring.