NatureNotes
909 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago - ★★★★★ - 16 ratingsNaturalist Rudy Mancke, the late host of SCETV's long-running NatureScene, shared his knowledge of plants and wildlife for nearly 25 years on NatureNotes. These 1-minute snippets offer you a chance to find out about diverse topics having to do with the natural world. From the inner workings of our world's ecosystems to plants & animals unique to South Carolina, you'll learn more about the world around you on NatureNotes.
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Episodes
Silver-spotted skipper
August 31, 2023 09:41 - 1 minute - 936 KBEpargyreus clarus, commonly known as the silver-spotted skipper, is an insect in the butterfly family.
Eastern rat snake
August 30, 2023 09:13 - 1 minute - 936 KBPantherophis alleghaniensis, commonly called the eastern rat snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake native to North America.
Spotted-winged antlion
August 29, 2023 09:59 - 1 minute - 936 KBDendroleon obsoletus, commonly known as the spotted-winged antlion, is a species of antlion found in North America.
Black vulture vs turkey vulture
August 28, 2023 09:41 - 1 minute - 936 KBRudy Mancke breaks down the differences between black vultures and turkey vultures.
Five-lined skink
August 24, 2023 09:38 - 1 minute - 936 KBPlestiodon fasciatus, commonly known as the five-lined skink, is one of the most common lizards in the eastern United States.
White-lined sphinx moth
August 23, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 936 KBHyles lineata, the white-lined sphinx moth, is sometimes known as the hummingbird moth because of its bird-like size and flight pattern.
Northern ringneck snake
August 22, 2023 10:16 - 1 minute - 936 KBRudy Mancke helps a listener identify a small snake with a ring around its neck.
Oakworm moth
August 21, 2023 10:00 - 1 minute - 936 KBOakworm moths are a species of silk moth that can be found in many areas of North America.
Cayaponia or creeping cucumber?
August 18, 2023 07:59 - 1 minute - 1.14 MBRudy Mancke helps a listener determine if a vine is a cayaponia or a creeping cucumber.
Caterpillars and braconid wasps
August 17, 2023 08:29 - 1 minute - 1.15 MBRudy Mancke discusses how certain parasitic wasps use caterpillars to host their eggs.
Honeybees in your birdbath
August 16, 2023 09:39 - 1 minute - 1.14 MBRudy Mancke hears from a listener who has seen a number of honeybees drinking from the birdbath in their yard.
Golden silk spider
August 15, 2023 08:17Trichonephila clavipes, commonly known as the golden silk spider, the golden silk orb-weaver, or the banana spider, is a species of large orb-weaving spiders native to both North and South America.
Robber flies
August 14, 2023 08:36 - 1 minute - 1.14 MBAsilidae, commonly known as robber flies, are a predatory family of flies that feed mainly on other insects.
Timber rattlesnakes
August 11, 2023 08:54 - 1 minute - 1.14 MBThe areas where you can find timber rattlesnakes in South Carolina are expanding. Rudy Mancke discusses.
Drexel's datana moths
August 10, 2023 08:41 - 1 minute - 1.15 MBDatana drexelii, commonly known as the Drexel's datana, is a species of moth native to North America.
Moths in South Carolina
August 09, 2023 08:26 - 1 minute - 1.15 MBSouth Carolina is home to several species of moths. Rudy Mancke talks about why that's the case.
Devil's walking stick
August 07, 2023 08:08 - 1 minute - 1.14 MBAurelia spinosa, commonly called the devil's walking stick, is a species of plant known for it's sharp, spiny stems and compound leaves.
Pupating caterpillar
August 04, 2023 08:26 - 58 seconds - 935 KBRudy Mancke helps a listener identify a caterpillar that is preparing to pupate.
Hanging thief robber fly
August 03, 2023 09:17 - 59 seconds - 946 KBDiogmites 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.
Gray fox
August 02, 2023 08:53 - 59 seconds - 941 KBRudy Mancke helps a listener identify an animal he saw in his yard.
Metallic wood-boring beetles
August 01, 2023 08:45 - 58 seconds - 914 KBRudy Mancke discusses metallic wood-boring beetles and their larvae known as flat-headed wood-borers.
Four-spotted pennant dragonfly
July 31, 2023 08:29 - 59 seconds - 926 KBBrachymesia gravida, commonly known as the four-spotted pennant, is a species of skimmer dragonfly found in North America.
Giant swallowtail caterpillars
July 28, 2023 09:25 - 59 seconds - 1.15 MBThe larval stage of the giant swallowtail butterfly is a caterpillar that resembles bird droppings.
Green lacewing eggs
July 27, 2023 08:15 - 59 seconds - 1.15 MBRudy Mancke helps a listener identify the chandelier-like eggs of the green lacewing.
Stinky squid stinkhorn mushrooms
July 26, 2023 08:03 - 59 seconds - 1.15 MBPseudocolus 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.
Poems celebrating the seasons
July 25, 2023 08:49 - 59 seconds - 1.14 MBRudy Mancke shares verses from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Lord Byron celebrating the seasons.
Rolling swarms of caterpillars
July 24, 2023 08:26 - 59 seconds - 1.15 MBIn order to move faster, caterpillars and some other insects form formations known as "rolling swarms" by crawling over each other.
Mystery skeleton
July 21, 2023 08:52 - 59 seconds - 1.15 MBRudy Mancke helps to identify a mystery skeleton sent to him by Jim Welch, his former co-host on SCETV's "NatureScene."
Samson foxes
July 21, 2023 08:43 - 59 seconds - 1.13 MBSamson foxes are a strain of red foxes which have a recessive trait preventing long hair growth.
Nature's recycling system
July 19, 2023 08:31 - 59 seconds - 1.15 MBRudy Mancke shares a note from a listener about how thinking of nature as a recycling system has changed their view on life.
Regal moths
July 18, 2023 08:23 - 58 seconds - 1.13 MBCitheronia regalis, commonly known as the regal moth or royal walnut moth, is native to the eastern United States.
Pawpaw trees
July 17, 2023 08:53 - 59 seconds - 1.14 MBAsimina 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.
Eastern hognose snake
July 14, 2023 08:56 - 1 minute - 1.15 MBHeterodon 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.
Mystery skull
July 13, 2023 08:45 - 1 minute - 1.14 MBA 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
July 12, 2023 08:23 - 1 minute - 1.15 MBCuckoo wasps are a family of parasitic wasps with often brilliant metallic colored bodies.
Vireo nests
July 11, 2023 07:57 - 1 minute - 1.15 MBWhite-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.
Giant stag beetle
July 10, 2023 08:48 - 1 minute - 1.14 MBLucanus 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.
Barn swallows
July 07, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBThe 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.
Red-bellied snakes
July 06, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBStoreria 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).
Centipedes vs. millipedes
July 05, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBMillipedes 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.
Wash those berries!
July 04, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBWild blackberries are delicious - but, don't eat them unless you thoroughly wash them!
Bones in the yard
July 03, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBA listener finds the remains of an animal in her yard...
Eastern rat snake
June 30, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBPantherophis 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.
"Honey pots"
June 29, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBA listener finds something in a bluebird box....
Cooper's hawk
June 28, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBCooper'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.
Eastern king snake
June 27, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBLampropeltis 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.
American redstart warbler
June 26, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBThe American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is a New World warbler. It is unrelated to the Old World (common) redstart.
Ash leafed maple
June 23, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBAcer 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.
Spring ladies's tresses orchid
June 22, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBSpiranthes 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.
Happy Summer Solstice!
June 21, 2023 09:30 - 1 minute - 945 KBThe 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).