Tag: Question of the Week
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Question of the Week – Parasitic Wasp Cocoon
This week, the question was: What is this brown oval object on the underside of this napa cabbage leaf? This is the cocoon of a parasitic wasp (Microplitis plutellae) that attacks and kills diamondback moth larvae. This wasp will lay an egg inside of the caterpillar, where the wasp larva feeds before emerging from the…
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Question of the Week – Poison Ivy
This week, the question was: What is the vine growing on this tree trunk? This is poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). This is a plant that everyone should be able to identify. Around 85% of people are allergic to poison ivy, though sensitivity varies greatly. Poison ivy is native to the Southeast and is recognizable by…
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Question of the Week – Curly Dock
This week, the question was: What is this weed growing up in the row middles of this strawberry field? This is curly dock (Rumex crispus). Curly dock is a perennial weed that thrives in wet conditions but is also quite tolerant of drought. It is commonly found in the row middles in strawberry fields, especially…
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Question of the Week – Phytophthora Crown Rot
This week, the question was: What caused the dark brown discoloration in this strawberry crown? This discoloration is a common symptom of Phytophthora crown rot. Wet conditions favor this disease; therefore, we tend to see it develop after periods of increased rainfall, especially in low areas in the field. The first symptom we notice is…
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Question of the Week – Parasitoid Wasp
This week, the question was: What happened to this aphid? This aphid has been parasitized by a tiny parasitoid wasp. Parasitoid wasps lay eggs in a host, like this aphid. As the egg hatches and the larva develops, it causes the aphid to swell, making it appear bloated. When the larva matures, it bores out…
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Question of the Week – Stinkhorns
This week, the question was: What is this specialty crop that Zack is growing in Charleston? If you knelt down and gave this mushroom a sniff, I can promise you would not take a bite out of it. This mushroom belongs to a group known as stinkhorns. They get their name from the terrible (to…
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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…
The South Carolina Grower 