Category: Question of the Week
-
Question of the Week – Blossom End Rot
This week, the question was: What’s going on with this watermelon? This watermelon is suffering from blossom end rot. This physiological disorder is also common in tomatoes and peppers. Blossom end rot results from a localized calcium deficiency in the fruit; however, this may not necessarily indicate a calcium deficiency in the soil. Blossom end…
-
Question of the Week – Sulphur Butterfly Chrysalis
This week, the question was: What is the pinkish-colored thing attached to this tomato stem? This is the chrysalis of a sulphur butterfly, most likely the cloudless sulphur (Pheobis sennae). The cloudless sulphur is a common butterfly in South Carolina seen frequently foraging wildflowers. The caterpillars feed on legume plants, specifically within the Chamaecrista and Senna genera.…
-
Question of the Week – Paper Wasp
This week, the question was: What is going on here? A friendly game of tag? This sulphur butterfly caterpillar probably wishes this was just a game of tag, but this predaceous paper wasp is going to use it to feed its larvae. Paper wasps are common insects in the garden and around structures, where they…
-
Question of the Week – Turmeric
This week, the question was: What is this crop being grown on John’s Island, SC? This is turmeric. This plant is grown for its swollen roots (rhizomes) which will be dug and harvested in the fall. Turmeric is a close relative of ginger that is a traditionally popular ingredient in Asian, African, and Caribbean dishes.…
-
Question of the Week – TSWV
This week, the question was: What is going on with this pepper leaf? This pepper leaf is showing symptoms of a virus, likely tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). TSWV is an important virus of tomato, pepper, eggplant, peanuts, tobacco, etc. that causes significant yield loss to infected plants. Numerous ornamental and weed species are also…
-
Question of the Week – Cross-striped Cabbageworm
This week, the question was: Which brassica-feeding caterpillar is commonly found in groups on a single leaf, as shown here? These are cross-striped cabbageworms (CSCW). CSCW moths lay eggs in clusters of 3 to 25 rather than singly like most other brassica caterpillar pests. Because there are numerous caterpillars feeding on a single leaf once…
-
Question of the Week – ICW Crysalis
This week, the question was: What is stuck to this collard leaf? This is the chrysalis of an imported cabbageworm (ICW). The ICW is an unusual brassica feeding caterpillar in that the adult stage is a butterfly, rather than a moth. Because of this, it pupates in a chrysalis, instead of a cocoon. The adult,…
-
Question of the Week – Squash Vine Borer
This week, the question was: What is this critter resting on a zucchini flower bud? This is the adult form of the squash vine borer. The female moth lays eggs on the leaves and stems of squash and zucchini plants. A tiny caterpillar hatches from the egg and bores into the stems to feed. We…
-
Question of the Week – Phyllody
This week, the question was: What is going on with these strawberries? These strawberries are exhibiting a condition known as “phyllody” where floral parts become leafy. Though it usually affects only a small amount of berries, we see phyllody in our fields pretty much every year. Phyllody can be infectious (caused by a phytoplasm vectored…
-
Question of the Week – Leafcutter Bee
This week, the question was: What created these near perfectly circular holes around the margin of this muscadine leaf? These holes were created by leafcutter bees while collecting materials to build their nests. These are native bees that are important pollinators of numerous species of wildflowers and cultivated crops. Leafcutter bees use the cut pieces…
The South Carolina Grower 