What kind of caterpillar is on this okra leaf?
This caterpillar-looking thing is not a caterpillar at all. It is, in fact, a small okra pod that is infected with the fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum. This pathogen is also common in squash, cukes, and eggplant. This is a very common issue in okra, especially after rain. I was out and about scouting this week for the two-spotted cotton leaf hopper in okra and noticed hundreds of these diseased okra pods and flowers. The black dots are the spores of the fungus and can be spread by splashing water and by bees and other insects. Typically, our hot, dry days will create an environment that is not conducive to the disease spreading until the next rain. When okra flowers the next day, the newly emerging pods are more often than not unaffected. The fungus overwinters in the soil on plant debris, so make sure to rotate crops.
This week’s question is from Zack Snipes, Lowcountry Horticulture Agent.
The South Carolina Grower 