Author: Dr. Dave Coyle

What Is That Fuzzy Red and Black Ant?

Aug 1, 2022 | In the Garden

Did you just see a fuzzy red and black ant scurrying across your yard, driveway, or pine straw? Then you just saw a velvet ant – they’re closely related to ants but are actually wasps. There are...

Velvet Ants

Jul 18, 2022 | Entomology

Learn about these unique insects and how to avoid their painful stings.

Eastern Eyed Click Beetle

Jul 7, 2022 | Entomology, In the Garden

The eastern eyed click beetle (Alaus oculatus) is found throughout South Carolina. Also known as the eyed elater, this is one of the larger click beetles in the region, with adults sometimes...

The Spotted Lanternfly Moves Closer To South Carolina

Jul 1, 2022 | In the Garden

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) (SLF) is the latest non-native species to take hold in the U.S. This planthopper is large (about a half-inch long) and originally from several countries...

Sycamore

Feb 10, 2022 | Landscape, Trees

Learn about the majestic Sycamore tree, a standout choice for large spaces with its unique bark and shade.

Pesticide Waste Disposal

Oct 11, 2021 | Entomology, Problems, Safe Handling

Learn how to handle empty pesticide containers to protect people and the environment.

Banana Spiders

Aug 16, 2021 | In the Garden

It’s not a banana, but it is big and yellow…it’s a banana spider! These gentle arachnids are fairly common in South Carolina during mid to late summer, especially in the Lowcountry. These spiders...

Bradford Pear and Elaeagnus to be Banned from Sale in South Carolina: What Do I Need To Know?

Jul 20, 2021 | In the Garden

The recent news that all Pyrus calleryana cultivars – the most common of which is the Bradford pear – and several Elaeagnus species have been added to the “do not sell” list in South Carolina has...

Eastern Hercules Beetles

Jul 15, 2021 | In the Garden

The eastern Hercules beetle is one of the largest and heaviest insects in the U.S. In South Carolina, there is only one Hercules beetle species, Dynastes tityus. These insects are a type of beetle...

Be On the Lookout for the Box Tree Moth

Jun 11, 2021 | In the Garden

The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, is a non-native moth that has recently been found in a nursery in South Carolina. Native to eastern Asia, the box tree moth has been present in Canada since...

One Year In: An Update On The Asian Longhorned Beetle Situation In South Carolina

Jun 7, 2021 | In the Garden

It’s been 1-year since the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) was found in Charleston County. This invasive species is mostly a threat to maples but also to poplar, willow, sycamore, birch, and elm....

Japanese Beetles

May 24, 2021 | In the Garden

A lot of attention recently has been on periodical cicadas, which are coming out of the ground after 17 years across parts of the Southeast and much of the Mid-Atlantic region. However, another...