Tag: Blogs

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...

More hot, dry weather is in store for this week. Disease and insect pressure continue to increase as watermelon, small fruit, tomato, and peach harvest continues. See details below. Check out the...

If you’re looking for a beautiful native plant that attracts a variety of pollinators, Stokes’ Aster (Stokesia laevis) is a good choice. I spent an hour in the Perennial border in the...

What caused the galls to form on this pecan leaf? These galls were caused by an insect called the pecan leaf phylloxera (Phylloxera notabilis). These are tiny aphid-like insects that feed on...

Finally, a little rain fell around the state, though things remain fairly dry overall. Disease and insect pests are becoming more common as tomatoes, cucurbits, and sweet corn come to harvest. See...

Do not be surprised to start seeing evidence of the periodic cicada invasion. Females damage small branches by their egg-laying activities. They use their ovipositor to cut slits through the bark...

Have you ever planted something in your garden and years later regretted it? There are several plants in my garden that fit that bill. One such plant is horsetail or scouring rush (Equisetum...

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...