Tag: Insects
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Question of the Week – Squash Beetle Trenching
This week, the question was: Why is a portion of this squash leaf discolored? The light-colored tissue we see here is the result of squash beetle behavior known as “trenching.” Trenching cuts off (at least temporarily) the translocation of cucurbitacin defense compounds, to preserve the palatability and quality of the squash foliage feeding site. The beetles […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Question of the Week – Fourlined Plant Bug
This week, the question was: What is this critter on this sunflower leaf? This is a fourlined plant bug. This small insect is commonly seen in the spring and usually disappears by early summer. It is a relatively minor pest of numerous plants including brassicas, cucurbits, beans, and members of the Solanaceae family, though it […]
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Weekly Field Update – 2/21/22
Coming up this week we have an in-person irrigation meeting and Part 1 of our virtual Brassica series. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our lineup of winter/spring meetings here. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to see this week’s Question of the Week and check back on Thursday […]
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Chlorpyrifos Food Tolerance Cancellation Rapidly Approaching
On February 28, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) food tolerances for chlorpyrifos are set to expire. This means growers will not be allowed to apply chlorpyrifos to any food crop after this date. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate used to manage insects in a number of fruit and vegetable crops. It has been on the […]
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