Bacterial Mule - Cucumber Beetle on Chicory, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
by KJ Swan
Title
Bacterial Mule - Cucumber Beetle on Chicory, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
Artist
KJ Swan
Medium
Photograph
Description
Cute and harmless? Hardly. Before you pet their adorable spots, be aware - their sting is considered one of the most painful known to humankind. They release a chemical compound causing skin to blister and intense pain.
The Spotted Cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) is an intensely destructive insect. Not only do they munch on young leaves, stems, and flowers but they can infect crops with a scourge of Bacterial Wilt. They are the unwitting vector of the flora-villain bacterium Erwinia tracheiphila.
As a consequence, agricultural war has been declared on the Spotted Cucumber beetle also known as the Southern Corn Rootworm. These crop-destructive insects have been showered with pesticides in an attempt to protect cucumbers, pumpkins, melons, squash, peanuts, potatoes, and corn. However, the war continues since this beetles larvae thrives in the soil making it difficult to effectively combat these invasive bacterial mules.
Blue Chicory: The Blue Sailors, Coffeeweed, Cornflower, Italian Dandelion or Succory blossoms are a beautiful true blue. Each Blue Chicory (Cichorium intybus) flower blooms for a single day but only when the weather is cool. When the sun makes the afternoon hot, these beautiful daisy-like blossoms decline in the heat. Bees, flies and butterflies will visit to pollinate but grasshoppers, caterpillars, worms and other beetles will feast on these short-lived blossoms.
Uploaded
February 3rd, 2022
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