Walking or driving down Magnolia Avenue in Long Beach, you're sure to notice that something is a little off.
"Sometimes when you're just walking, it kind of sticks to your shoe, and it's really like gooey," said homeowner Melissa Roxas.
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The magnolia trees are dying. They're drying up and turning black.
More than 1,000 magnolias across the city of Long Beach are infested with a pest, known as the Tuliptree Scale. The pests suck up the trees sap, and in some cases, kill the trees.
Long Beach City Council members are now working to find a fix. In a meeting Tuesday, they are expected to discuss the cost to remove and replant all infected trees, what further treatment options exist, and a cost estimate for water blasting all affected sidewalks.
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Neighbors say the problem has been going on for a few years.
"My husband has looked into it. He's called the city," said Roxas.
The insects also leave a sticky black film on the leaves, which gets on cars and sidewalks and is very hard to remove.