When you hear of the whitefly, do you imagine that it sounds like a gnat flying around your head and is just an overall nuisance? Actually, they’re not at all like gnats, except for the nuisance factor to growers. Whiteflies suck on plant leaves, according to Hannah Burrack, an Extension entomologist at North Carolina State … Read more
If you are a proud owner of plants, then you already know that your biggest enemies are pests, especially if your plants are still seedlings. That is because seedlings represent the perfect food for pests to munch on since they are still young and soft. So, the best advice I could give you is to … Read more
On warm spring days in many parts of the country, two species of cucumber beetles lurk near vegetable fields or feast on an available crop until their favorite meal, a cucurbit, emerges. Adult beetles overwinter in protected areas near buildings, fences, and woodlots. They rapidly find host plants. In more northern areas, the striped cucumber … Read more
Occasionally, consumers and producers alike come across the wormy apple. Codling moth (CM, Cydia pomonella) and Oriental fruit moth (OFM, Grapholita molesta) larvae may both be involved as they tunnel into fruit flesh, but only CM will feed on the apple’s core and seed. The larvae also differ anatomically; unlike OFM, CM has no anal … Read more
A healthy plant possibly means fewer insects Like most anywhere in the USA, fruits, and vegetables are grown in the Danville, Virginia, area, and occasionally, growers will inquire about growth problems to local Extension agent Stuart Sutphin. However, when it comes to blueberries, the silence is deafening. “I know people around here raise blueberries,” he said, … Read more