Category: Question of the Week
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Question of the Week – Cold Damage
This week, the question was: What happened to the new growth on this holly? This dark-colored tissue was damaged by the cold weather we experienced early last week. Damage to new growth is most likely to occur in the Spring when a frost or freeze follows a period of warm weather where new growth was…
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Question of the Week – Bess Beetles
This week, the question was: These beetles were found under a decaying log in the woods. What are they These are bess beetles, also called horned passalus beetles (Odontotaenius disjunctus). These are beneficial beetles that feed on decaying wood, helping it to break down further, which explains why they were found under a decaying log.…
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Question of the Week – Carpenter Bee
This week, the question was: What caused the slit in the sides of these blueberry flowers? These slits were made by carpenter bees. Carpenter bees commonly cut through blueberry flowers to access nectar from the side, rather than the open bottom. This practice, known as “nectar robbing,” minimizes contact with the flower’s reproductive parts, reducing…
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Question of the Week – Cope’s Grey Treefrog
This week, the question was: What kind of frog is sitting in this pine tree? This is a Cope’s grey treefrog. I found this little guy while walking through the woods, scoping out turkey hunting spots. This species spends most of the year high in the trees, so finding it down low is likely a…
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Question of the Week – Goose Poop
This week, the question was: What kind of caterpillar is this? This week was a trick question. This is no caterpillar. It’s goose poop! Well done to everyone that saw through the B.S., or more appropriately, G.S. Even though this week’s question was for fun, feces on our plants is a serious food safety concern.…
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Question of the Week – White Peach Scale
This week, the question was: What is all over this peach tree limb? This is an infestation of white peach scale. White peach scale isn’t terribly common to find, and when you do see it, it is usually concentrated on just a few trees within a much larger block. We don’t always see white peach…
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Question of the Week – Yellowmargin Leaf Beetle and Vegetable Weevil
This week, the question was: What has been feeding on this neglected Napa cabbage? This Napa cabbage is being fed on by larvae of both the yellow margined leaf beetle (YMLB, Microtheca ochroloma) and vegetable weevil (Listroderes difficilis). YMLB can be a significant pest for organic production, especially turnips and Napa cabbage, which they prefer.…
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Question of the Week – Bad Chickens
This week, the question was: What happened to this poor collard plant? I routinely scout the collards in my yard for insect pests and enjoy watching wasps parasitize worms and aphids. I walked out the other day and thought the wasps must be taking a break from parasitizing because I have serious damage. Upon further…
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Question of the Week – Phytophthora Crown Rot
This week, the question was: What has caused the dark brown discoloration in the crown of this strawberry plant? This dark reddish/brown discoloration in the crown is a typical symptom of Phytophthora crown rot. The first observable signs of this disease include wilting and browning of the leaves in the field. Phytophthora is most serious…
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Question of the Week – Spider Mites
This week, the question was a two part question: What is causing the stippling effect to these strawberry leaves? Photo Credit: T Bilbo, Clemson Extension. The stippling effect seen on the upper surface of this strawberry leaf is caused by two-spotted spider mite feeding damage. When the mites pierce the epidermis of the leaf to…
The South Carolina Grower 