Author: Justin Ballew

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,...

What is this flower that was found growing on a rock in the middle of a river? This is a rocky shoals spider lily (Hymenocallis coronaria). This species is endemic to the Southeast and grows only in...

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...

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...

What has caused this gelatinous substance to ooze from a developing peach? This gelatinous substance is often called “gummosis” and can be caused by a number of things, such as disease, mechanical...

What is this red-eyed creature found crawling up a pine tree? This is a periodical cicada nymph that has just crawled out of the soil after 13 years of feeding and developing underground and is now...

What is this critter that was found resting on the wall inside of a garage? This is another beneficial insect: a brown lacewing. Brown lacewings are smaller than the more common green lacewings,...

What is this cool-season weed that is turning fallow fields purple right now? This is henbit (Lamium amplexicaule). This annual cool-season weed germinates in the fall and grows throughout the...

These citrus leaves are showing symptoms of cold injury. This tree is part of a study at the Sandhill REC in Columbia looking at 9 varieties of citrus that are believed to have improved cold...

Coastal Region Zack Snipes We had a week of warm weather after a cold snap. I have seen an uptick in black rot in brassicas. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything anyone can do, conventionally or...