Category: Question of the Week
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Question of the Week – Kudzu Bug
What are these insects on pole butterbeans? The insects pictured are bean plataspids, Megacopta cribraria (F.), commonly known as “kudzu bugs.” They are an invasive plant pest from Asia. First reported in the US in 2009 near Atlanta, GA, they are now found from Louisiana to Virginia and are reported from all counties in South…
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Question of the Week – Planthopper
What left the fluffy, white deposit on this zinnia stem? This fluffy material was left by a flatid planthopper. Flatid planthoppers feed on a variety of ornamental plants. The ¼” long adults appear to be wedge shaped and laterally flattened when viewed from above. This appearance is created by their large, angular front wings which they…
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Question of the Week – Spider Mites
What caused the stippling on this eggplant leaf? This damage was caused by two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urica). While spider mites are often included in discussions of insect management, they actually have 8 legs, making them more closely related to spiders. Typically, two-spotted spider mites can be found feeding on the underside of the leaves.…
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Question of the Week – TSWV
What is going on with this Roma tomato? The tie-dye appearance of this tomato is due to it being infected by tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). TSWV is an important virus of tomato, pepper, eggplant, peanuts, tobacco, etc. that causes significant yield loss to affected plants. The virus is transmitted by thrips feeding. While TSWV…
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Question of the Week – Rocky Shoals Spider Lily
What is this flower that was found growing on a rock in the middle of a river? This is is a rocky shoals spider lily (Hymenocallis coronaria). This species is endemic to the Southeast and grows only in swift, shallow water environments, making the Catawba and Broad Rivers in South Carolina ideal habitats. The population…
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Question of the Week – Pink Lemonade Blueberry
What is wrong with these blueberries? This week was a trick question. Nothing is wrong with these blueberries! This is a variety called Pink Lemonade that when fully ripe, has a deep pink color. I don’t know if its because they are pink, but I personally think they taste slightly different than a blue blueberry. To me,…
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Question of the Week – Morning Glory Prominent
What kind of caterpillar is feeding on this buckeye leaf? This is the caterpillar of the morning glory prominent moth (Schizura ipomaeae). While the adult moth is rather nondescript, the caterpillar is very interesting. It is quite well camouflaged, and from a distance, it could be mistaken for necrotic tissue along the margin of a…
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Question of the Week – Pecan Leaf Phylloxera
What caused the galls to form on this pecan leaf? These galls were caused by an insect called the pecan leaf phylloxera (Phylloxera notabilis). These are tiny aphid-like insects that feed on immature pecan tree foliage. Due to their size, the insects themselves are rarely seen. The feeding damage causes rapid growth of the affected…
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Question of the Week – Black Swallowtail
What is munching on this dill? This caterpillar is the larval form of the Eastern black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius). This is a beautiful species of butterfly that is common in the Southeast. Host plants for black swallowtails include members of the carrot family (Apiaceae), such as dill, parsley, celery, and fennel, as well as…
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Question of the Week – Rice Trunk
What is this piece of equipment used for? This piece of equipment is called a trunk and was historically used to manipulate the water levels in rice fields along the coast of South Carolina. The fields could be flooded or drained by adjusting the height of the doors (attached to the bottom of the three…
The South Carolina Grower 