Editing Lagerstroemia (section)

== Ecology ==
''Lagerstroemia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] (moth and butterfly) species, including ''[[Endoclita]] malabaricus''.

The leaves of ''L. parviflora'' are fed on by the ''[[Antheraea paphia]]'' moth, which produces the [[tassar silk]], a form of [[wild silk]] of commercial importance in India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ab598e/AB598E13.htm |title=Non-wood forest products In 15 countries of Tropical Asia |publisher=fao.org |access-date=30 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418203749/http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ab598e/AB598E13.htm |archive-date=18 April 2014}}</ref> 

Crape myrtles are susceptible to several pests and diseases, most notably, fungus-caused powdery mildew,<ref>{{Cite web |title=5 Most Common Crepe Myrtle Problems - North American Tree Service |url=https://www.northamericantree.com/blog/2019/12/12/5-most-common-myrtle-problems |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Tree Care {{!}} Snellville, Lawrenceville GA {{!}} North American Tree Service |date=12 December 2019 |language=English}}</ref> and more recently,  bark scale, caused by aphids leaving a black dark fungal infection in their wake.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bark Scale and the Crepe Myrtle: Understanding the Threat and How to Protect Your Trees |date=23 April 2023 |url=https://www.chasehorticulturalresearch.com/2023/04/bark-scale-and-crepe-myrtle.html |access-date=2023-04-24 |language=en}}</ref>