Controlling Aphids and Sooty Mold on Crape Myrtle

Pink crape myrtles develop yellow leaves with a wet, glossy coating. The owner seeks spray recommendations.

Aphid Infestation Signs

The "wet look" is honeydew—sticky excrement from aphids feeding on leaf undersides. Check leaf undersides for small, soft-bodied insects. Honeydew hosts sooty mold, compounding the problem.

Management Resources

Refer to the NC State Extension fact sheet on crape myrtle aphids (link) for identification, life cycle, and a list of effective insecticides available at garden centers. Options include horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, neonicotinoids, and pyrethroids—rotate modes of action.

Integrated Approach

• Scout weekly; treat when populations exceed thresholds.
• Preserve beneficial insects (lady beetles, lacewings) with selective products.
• Ants farm aphids for honeydew—control ants if they're protecting colonies.

Early intervention prevents severe yellowing, leaf drop, and blackened foliage.