Crape Myrtle Bark Beetle

Natural Habitat

Found primarily in gardens, landscapes, and nurseries throughout the southeastern United States on its primary host, the Crape Myrtle tree.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; both larvae and adults feed on the foliage of Crape Myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia) and occasionally Evening Primrose.

Behavior Patterns

They exhibit a shiny, metallic black or dark blue appearance with red-orange pronotums. They are known for their ability to jump when disturbed and often aggregate in large numbers on tree trunks and leaves.

Risks & Benefits

They are considered a minor garden pest; while they cause skeletonization of leaves and aesthetic damage to ornamental trees, they do not typically kill the host plant. They serve as a food source for various predatory insects.

Identified on: 6/12/2026