Natchez is under invasion and a quick defense must be launched quickly before the damage is irreparable.

For more than 150 years, the beautiful crape myrtle tree has dotted Natchez landscapes.

The crape myrtle has become so ubiquitous in Natchez that an actual variety was named after the city.

But during the last several months a small, but enterprising, little insect has begun wreaking havoc on the city’s beautiful crape myrtles — crape myrtle bark scale.

The small insects leave a rather nasty, black, sooty path in their wake. The result is the transformation of the normally beautiful ornamental tree into an unsightly mess.

Crape myrtle bark scale threatens to ruin many of the beautiful, crape myrtle-lined walkways throughout the city.

We’ve long suggested the City of Natchez would be wise to add to its arsenal of public servants a city horticulturist whose job would include tackling such pests along with ensuring the city’s entrances and exits remain beautiful.

The cost of treating — or replacing — some of the hundreds, if not thousands, of crape myrtle trees on public property may more than offset the expense of adding the position to the city’s payroll.

And having someone focused on the city’s appearance may encourage more visitors to spend more money in the city, too.