The fourth year of a calico scale infestation is causing a mess beneath trees in downtown Waynesville.

The name calico comes from its black-and-white color pattern. The insect is a recent transplant from California moving down the Northeast coast and is particularly fond of the Zelkova trees in downtown Waynesville.

“The scale is a voracious feeder, which creates a sticky mess beneath the trees, called honeydew,” said Bill Skelton, Haywood County extension director.

The damage to the trees is limited, but a major infestation can seriously weaken the trees and spread to other trees. The extent of the infestation has led to a treatment where insecticide is injected into the trunk of the tree and absorbed through out the tree. When the scale feed on the tree, they absorb the insecticide. “We looked at spraying, the most common treatment, but it was not safe or practical for an urban setting,” said Ron Huelster, executive director of the Downtown Waynesville Association.