Author: Tom Bilbo

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – September 16, 2024

Sep 17, 2024 | In the Garden

The Pee Dee region is expecting rain from a potential tropical weather system this week. Fall crops are growing well with fairly low disease pressure. Caterpillar populations are climbing in places....

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report- August 12, 2024

Aug 13, 2024 | In the Garden

The coastal region and Pee Dee saw lots of rain and flooding in places from Tropical Storm Debby last week. As field conditions improve this week, please document any crop or infrastructure impacts...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – May 28, 2024

May 28, 2024 | In the Garden

We hope everyone had a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss anything. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC Grower...

Question of the Week – Hover Fly Larva

Apr 24, 2024 | Entomology, In the Garden

What is this maggot-looking insect on the bottom of this strawberry leaf? This is a hover fly larva. Hover flies (Syrphidae), also called syrphid flies, are common bee-mimicking flies that are often...

Question of the Week – Thrips

Mar 13, 2024 | In the Garden

What is the tiny critter on the petal of this strawberry bloom? This picture shows a tobacco thrips (reduced wing form) crawling out of a strawberry flower at Clemson’s Coastal REC in Charleston....

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – 3/11/24

Mar 12, 2024 | In the Garden

We have lots of meetings coming up over the next few months, so be sure to keep a close eye on the Upcoming Events tab so you don’t miss anything. Coming up this week, we have the Upstate Apple...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report- February 26, 2024

Feb 27, 2024 | In the Garden

We have lots of meetings coming up over the next few months, so be sure to keep a close eye on the Upcoming Events tab so you don’t miss anything. Coming up this week is the Pee Dee Vegetable...

What is It? Wednesday – Barklice

Jun 21, 2023 | In the Garden

These are barklice, AKA barkflies or booklice crawling on the bark of this crape myrtle tree. This species is probably Cerastipsocus venosus. Barklice are sometimes called “tree cattle” due to their...

What Is It? Wednesday – Parasitic Wasp Cocoon

May 17, 2023 | In the Garden

This is the cocoon of a parasitic wasp (Microplitis plutellae) that attacks and kills diamondback moth larvae. This wasp will lay an egg inside the caterpillar, where the wasp larva feeds before...

What is It? Wednesday – Yellowmargin Leaf Beetle and Vegetable Weevil damage

Feb 22, 2023 | In the Garden

This Napa cabbage is being fed on by larvae of both the yellow margined leaf beetle (YMLB, Microtheca ochroloma) and vegetable weevil (Listroderes difficilis). YMLB can be a significant pest for...

What Is It? Wednesday – Spider Mites on Strawberries

Feb 1, 2023 | In the Garden

The stippling effect seen on the upper surface of this strawberry leaf is caused by two-spotted spider mite feeding damage. When the mites pierce the epidermis of the leaf to extract the sap, the...

What Is It? Wednesday – Squash Beetle Trenching

Oct 5, 2022 | In the Garden

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...