NatureNotes

Eumorpha pandorus, the Pandorus sphinx moth, is known for its dark markings and narrow wings.

Neoconocephalus bivocatus, the robust conehead katydid, is one of several katydid species found in South Carolina. It is known for its distinctive head shape and loud, harsh song.

Brunneria borealis, commonly known as Brunner's mantis, is a species of praying mantis native to the Southern US.

The eastern lubber is a species of colorful grasshopper widely found throughout the southeastern US.

Rudy Mancke shares a favorite quote from Isaac Newton about our place in the universe.

Rudy Mancke breaks down the difference in markings between question mark butterflies and comma butterflies.

Rudy Mancke helps a listener identify a bivalve that had squirted water on them at the beach.

Phanaeus vindex, the rainbow scarab, is a species of dung beetle known for its bright metallic shell.

The brown anole, Anolis sagrei, is a species of lizard in the family native to Cuba and the Bahamas.

Rudy Mancke helps a listener identify a bumpy, jelly-like fungus found after a recent hurricane.

Clematis terniflora, sweet autumn clematis, is a woody and fragrant vine known for its white flowers. It is considered an invasive plant.

Rudy Mancke discusses the colorful dryocampa rubicunda, commonly known as the rosy maple moth, and its caterpillar form called the greenstriped mapleworm.

In 2023, the autumn equinox falls on Saturday, September 23.

Chasmanthium latifolium, also commonly known as "fish on a line," inland sea oats, and river oats, is a species of grass native to the central and eastern United States.

Urbanus proteus, commonly called the long-tailed skipper, is a spread-winged skipper butterfly found throughout tropical and subtropical South America, south to Argentina and north into the southern part of the United States of America.

Rudy Mancke discusses the venomous eastern cottonmouth, sometimes known as water moccasin.

Rudy Mancke helps two listeners identify different life stages of the regal walnut moth.

Rudy Mancke reads a selection from James Thomson's poem "The Castle of Indolence."

Madtoms are a family of freshwater catfish that are generally only 2-5 inches in length.

Erythemis simplicicollis, commonly called the eastern pondhawk, is a species of dragonfly native to North America.

Sphecius speciosus, commonly known as the cicada killer, is a species of solitary wasp that preys on cicadas.

Rudy Mancke helps a listener identify the distinctively shaped nest of a potter wasp.

Vitis rotundifolia, commonly known as muscadine, is species of grape native to the southeastern United States.

Rudy Mancke hears from a listener who found animal waste in their garage.

Gallinula galeata, the common gallinule, is a species of bird common to the wetlands of the United States. It is closely related to the common moorhen.

Rudy Mancke helps a listener identify a snake they found under some plywood in their yard.

It's that time of year again! Rudy Mancke discusses the cicadas we've been hearing and seeing lately.

Rudy Mancke discusses several species of dragonfly common to North America.

Rudy Mancke discusses naegleria fowleri, often called the "brain-eating amoeba."

Epargyreus clarus, commonly known as the silver-spotted skipper, is an insect in the butterfly family.

Pantherophis alleghaniensis, commonly called the eastern rat snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake native to North America.

Dendroleon obsoletus, commonly known as the spotted-winged antlion, is a species of antlion found in North America.

Rudy Mancke breaks down the differences between black vultures and turkey vultures.

Plestiodon fasciatus, commonly known as the five-lined skink, is one of the most common lizards in the eastern United States.

Hyles lineata, the white-lined sphinx moth, is sometimes known as the hummingbird moth because of its bird-like size and flight pattern.

Rudy Mancke helps a listener identify a small snake with a ring around its neck.

Oakworm moths are a species of silk moth that can be found in many areas of North America.

Rudy Mancke helps a listener determine if a vine is a cayaponia or a creeping cucumber.

Rudy Mancke discusses how certain parasitic wasps use caterpillars to host their eggs.

Rudy Mancke hears from a listener who has seen a number of honeybees drinking from the birdbath in their yard.

Asilidae, commonly known as robber flies, are a predatory family of flies that feed mainly on other insects.

The areas where you can find timber rattlesnakes in South Carolina are expanding. Rudy Mancke discusses.

Datana drexelii, commonly known as the Drexel's datana, is a species of moth native to North America.

South Carolina is home to several species of moths. Rudy Mancke talks about why that's the case.

Aurelia spinosa, commonly called the devil's walking stick, is a species of plant known for it's sharp, spiny stems and compound leaves.

Rudy Mancke helps a listener identify a caterpillar that is preparing to pupate.

Diogmites neoternatus, commonly known as the hanging thief robber fly, use their front legs to hang from plants in order to catch prey with the other four legs.

Rudy Mancke helps a listener identify an animal he saw in his yard.

Rudy Mancke discusses metallic wood-boring beetles and their larvae known as flat-headed wood-borers.

Brachymesia gravida, commonly known as the four-spotted pennant, is a species of skimmer dragonfly found in North America.

The larval stage of the giant swallowtail butterfly is a caterpillar that resembles bird droppings.

Rudy Mancke helps a listener identify the chandelier-like eggs of the green lacewing.

Pseudocolus fusiformis is a species of stinkhorn mushroom commonly called the "stinky squid" due to it's odor and the three or four tentacle-like growths that connect at the top.

Rudy Mancke shares verses from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Lord Byron celebrating the seasons.

In order to move faster, caterpillars and some other insects form formations known as "rolling swarms" by crawling over each other.

Rudy Mancke helps to identify a mystery skeleton sent to him by Jim Welch, his former co-host on SCETV's "NatureScene."

Samson foxes are a strain of red foxes which have a recessive trait preventing long hair growth.

Rudy Mancke shares a note from a listener about how thinking of nature as a recycling system has changed their view on life.

Citheronia regalis, commonly known as the regal moth or royal walnut moth, is native to the eastern United States.

Asimina triloba, commonly known as the pawpaw tree, is the only North American member of the tropical plant family Annonaceae and produces the large edible fruit native to the continent.

Heterodon platirhinos, commonly known as the eastern hognose snake, is a species of snake which grow to be 20-30 inches long with a thick body and an upturned snout. These snakes mainly feed on amphibians, are not harmful to humans, and will play dead when threatened.

A listener from Horry County asks Rudy Mancke to help identify a skull found on their property. While partially devoured, the skull's teeth point to it belonging to a member of the rabbit family.

Cuckoo wasps are a family of parasitic wasps with often brilliant metallic colored bodies.

White-eyed and red-eyed vireos are species of birds common to the eastern United States. They are known for building nests using materials like spider silk and caterpillar silk to attach their nests between tree branches.

Lucanus elaphus, commonly known as the giant stag beetle, the elk stag beetle, or the elephant stag beetle, is a species of large beetles native to eastern North America. Male giant stag beetles can reach 2.5 inches in length, including large antler-like mandibles.

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It appears to have the largest natural distribution of any of the world's passerines, ranging over 251 million square kilometres globally. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail. It is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Storeria occipitomaculata, commonly known as the redbelly snake or the red-bellied snake, is a species of harmless snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to North America (Canada and the United States).

Millipedes have two sets of legs per segment positioned directly under their body. Centipedes have one set of legs per segment positioned on the side of their body.

Wild blackberries are delicious - but, don't eat them unless you thoroughly wash them!

A listener finds the remains of an animal in her yard...

Pantherophis alleghaniensis, commonly called the eastern rat snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America. Additional common names for P. alleghaniensis include black rat snake, pilot snake, pilot black snake, chicken snake; and in Florida, yellow rat snake and Everglades rat snake.

A listener finds something in a bluebird box....

Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized hawk native to the North American continent and found from southern Canada to Mexico. This species is a member of the genus Accipiter, sometimes referred to as true hawks, which are famously agile, relatively small hawks common to wooded habitats around the world and also the most diverse of all diurnal raptor genera.

Lampropeltis getula, commonly known as the eastern kingsnake, common kingsnake, or chain kingsnake, is a harmless colubrid species endemic to the United States and Mexico. It has long been a favorite among collectors.

The American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is a New World warbler. It is unrelated to the Old World (common) redstart.

Acer negundo, the box elder, boxelder maple, Manitoba maple or ash-leaved maple, is a species of maple native to North America. It is a fast-growing, short-lived tree with opposite, compound leaves. It is sometimes considered a weedy or invasive species, and has been introduced to and naturalized throughout much of the world, including in South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, much of Europe, and parts of Asia.

Spiranthes vernalis, commonly called the spring ladies'-tresses, is a species of orchid that is native to North America, Central America and the Bahamas. It is a perennial that produces a spiral of white flowers in the early summer.

The summer solstice, also called the estival solstice or midsummer, occurs when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern).

The eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis) is a species of legless lizard in the family Anguidae, endemic to the Southeastern United States.

Baetisca is a genus of armored mayflies in the family Baetiscidae. There are about 12 described species in Baetisca.

The eastern cottonmouth is the only venomous water snake in South Carolina. The rest are no danger to humans.

The Mississippi kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Mississippi kites have narrow, pointed wings and are graceful in flight, often appearing to float in the air.

The cedar-hawthorn rust is common all across the Midwest and Eastern United States. Its overwintering capability allows it to thrive in seasonal climates with harsh winters. The pathogen that causes it, Gymnosporangium globosum, prefers humid and cloudy conditions for developing growth and the spores depend on rain and wind to be dispersed to its alternate host.

"What is so rare as a day in June?" Rudy shares some poetry about summer by James Russell Lowell and Mary Russell Mitford.

Lyssomanes viridis, commonly known as the magnolia green jumper, is a species of jumping spider of the genus Lyssomanes, for which it is the type species. The species is native to the United States, being found in much of the Southeastern United States as far north as Pennsylvania and down into parts of Texas.

Fuligo septica is a species of slime mold, and a member of the class Myxomycetes. It is commonly known as scrambled egg slime, or flowers of tan because of its peculiar yellowish appearance. It is also known as dog vomit slime mold or Jasmine mold and is relatively common with a worldwide distribution, often being found on bark mulch in urban areas after heavy rain or excessive watering. Their spores are produced on or in aerial sporangia and are spread by wind.

The southern cricket frog or southeastern cricket frog (Acris gryllus) is a small hylid frog native to the Southeastern United States. It is very similar in appearance and habits to the northern cricket frog, Acris crepitans, and was considered formerly conspecific (Dickerson 1906). The scientific name Acris is from the Greek word for locust, and the species name gryllus is Latin for cricket.

Eacles imperialis, the imperial moth, is a member of the family Saturniidae and subfamily Ceratocampinae. It is found mainly in the East of South America and North America, from the center of Argentina to south Canada. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.

A barracuda is a large, predatory, ray-finned fish known for its fearsome appearance and ferocious behaviour. The barracuda is a saltwater fish of the genus Sphyraena, the only genus in the family Sphyraenidae. It is found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide ranging from the eastern border of the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, on its western border the Caribbean Sea, and in tropical areas of the Pacific Ocean.

Sesbania drummondii, known as poisonbean, rattlebox and rattlebush, is a medium-sized perennial shrub in the legume family Fabaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States, from Texas east to Florida.

The American painted lady or American lady (Vanessa virginiensis) is a butterfly found throughout North America.

A listener was happy to spot a monarch butterfly caterpillar on her milkweed plant. But, there was another vistor on the plant, not so welcome.

The common snapping turtle, or eastern snapping turtle, (Chelydra serpentina) is a species of large freshwater turtle in the family Chelydridae. Its natural range extends from southeastern Canada, southwest to the edge of the Rocky Mountains, as far east as Nova Scotia and Florida.

Papilio glaucus, the eastern tiger swallowtail, is a species of butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, ranging north to southern Ontario, Canada, and is common in many different habitats. It flies from spring until fall, during which it produces two to three broods.

Carolina wrens like to nest in corners and cubbies, as a listener found out.

Rudy is thinking of Spring and shares a quote from Tom Hood and one from Emerson.

Hyalophora cecropia, the cecropia moth, is North America's largest native moth. It is a member of the family Saturniidae, or giant silk moths. Females have been documented with a wingspan of five to seven inches (160 mm) or more. These moths can be found all across North America as far west as Washington and north into the majority of Canadian provinces.

Xysticus ferox, the brown crab spider, is a species of crab spider in the family Thomisidae.[1][2][3][4] It is found in the USA and Canada.

The fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), also known as the eastern fox squirrel or Bryant's fox squirrel,[2] is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America. Despite the differences in size and coloration, it is sometimes mistaken for American red squirrels or eastern gray squirrels in areas where the species co-exist.