Category: Insects
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Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Detected in South Carolina
From Clemson’s Department of Plant Industry The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), an invasive insect known for damaging grapes, hops, stone fruits, and hardwood trees, has been detected for the first time in South Carolina. Clemson University’s Department of Plant Industry (DPI) confirmed the presence of the pest in the cities of Greenville and Seneca. The…
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Time to Think About Cucumber Beetles
From Tom Bilbo, Extension Entomologist As the weather warms up and our summer vegetable crops get going, it’s time to be on the lookout for cucumber beetles in our various cucurbit crops. There are three species that we see in South Carolina: banded, spotted, and striped cucumber beetles, with the latter two being more problematic…
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Yellow-legged Hornet Sighted in Savannah, GA
From Clemson Apiculture and Pollinator Specialist Ben Powell. Recently, the Georgia Department of Agriculture reported that a specimen of the yellow-legged hornet (YLH) (Vespa velutina) was confirmed from Savannah, GA. This native of southeast Asia is a predator of other insects, often attacking colonies of other social wasps and bees, including western honey bee colonies.…
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The Pesky Caterpillar Pests of Cucurbit Crops: Part 2
From Extension Vegetable Entomologist Tom Bilbo Last week, we covered identification and management strategies for the squash vine borer, the first of three common cucurbit caterpillar pests. This week, we will discuss the other two. Melonworm (Diaphania hyalinata) and Pickleworm (D. nitidalis) These closely related insects are tropical species that are only known to overwinter…
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The Pesky Caterpillar Pests of Cucurbit Crops: Part 1
From Extension Vegetable Entomologist Tom Bilbo There are three common caterpillar pests that plague growers of cucurbits in South Carolina and elsewhere throughout the Southeast: the squash vine borer (SVB), the pickleworm, and the melonworm. All three are specialist herbivores of cucurbits, which means they (the caterpillar stage) only feed on cucurbits and are specially…
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Asian Longhorned Beetle Found in SC
From Clemson Forest Health and Invasive Species Specialist Dave Coyle. The Asian longhorned beetle has been found near Hollywood, SC (Charleston County). This invasive tree pest primarily attacks maples (especially red maple) but also elms, willows, and birches. Clemson Regulatory Services, Clemson Extension, and USDA APHIS need your help in detecting this beetle in the…
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“Murder Hornets” in SC?
From Clemson Apiculture Specialist Ben Powell. The story of the introduction of the Asian Giant Hornet (AGH) into North America has been circulating for at least six months by various news sources, but the use of the term “murder hornet” in the NY Times article this past weekend created a viral sensation that is now…
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Common Predatory Mites Found to Prey on Thrips
From Clemson Entomology Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Monica Farfan Predatory mites, such as this Proprioseiopsis mexicanus, the most commonly collected predatory mite in watermelon fields in South Carolina, are first line of defense in the case of an outbreak of pests, such as spider mites and thrips (shown here). Since these mites supplement their diets with pollen…
The South Carolina Grower 