Recently, oak trees throughout North Carolina are falling victim to a disease, evident by browning leaves and premature leaf drop. When encountering a situation like this, forest health professionals handle it like a detective case, examining the available evidence, ruling out suspects, and utilizing laboratories for confirmation. In this case, while there are several diseases … Read more
Skeletons are becoming a familiar sight in Durham this summer, and it’s not from overly excited fans of Halloween décor. These skeletons are of once-green oak leaves, the remaining veins after the oak slug sawfly has had its fill. This insect is responsible for the sudden transformation of oaks in and around downtown Durham from … Read more
This summer, North Carolina has its own “Very Hungry Caterpillar,” a favorite children’s book character known for its large appetite. This caterpillar won’t eat through various fruits, cupcakes and ice cream as it does in the book, though. Rather, this caterpillar is eating through leaves of white oak, red oak, yellow poplar, black gum … Read more
Summer is winding down, which means backpacks, No. 2 pencils, and the orangestriped oakworms are back! This native caterpillar is black with orange stripes and has two conspicuous horns near its head. Every year as we head into the last few weeks of summer, it makes itself and its appetite for tree leaves known. They feed … Read more
