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
Rose-breasted grosbeaks and gray-cheeked thrushes
November 16, 2022 10:30 - 1 minute - 672 KBA listener reports two casulties outside a window: a grey-cheeked thrush and a rose-breasted grosbeak.
Eastern garter snakes
November 15, 2022 10:30 - 1 minute - 672 KBThe eastern garter snake has a wide range across eastern North America, as far north as southern Ontario and Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico in the south, along the eastern shores of America to the Mississippi River. In New England, the snake is described as the "most widespread and ubiquitous" serpent, from wilderness to urban environments and from sea level to high elevations.
Yellow-necked caterpillars
November 14, 2022 10:30 - 1 minute - 672 KBDatana ministra, the yellownecked caterpillar, is a moth of the family Notodontidae. It is found in southern Canada and the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, in the south-west it ranges to California. The wingspan is about 42 mm. There is one generation per year.The larvae feed on Malus, Quercus, Betula and Salix species. Young larvae skeletonise the leaves of their host plant. Later, they feed on all of the leaf except the leaf stalk. They feed in groups. The larvae are yellowish an...
Walking sticks
November 11, 2022 10:31 - 1 minute - 14.2 MBThe Phasmatodea (also known as Phasmida, Phasmatoptera or Spectra) are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects, stick-bugs, walking sticks, stick animals, or bug sticks. They are also occasionally referred to as Devil's darning needles, although this name is shared by both dragonflies and crane flies.
Scarlet tanagers
November 10, 2022 10:30 - 1 minute - 14.2 MBThe scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea) is a medium-sized American songbird. The species' plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family, although the Piranga species lacks the thick conical bill (well suited to seed and insect eating) that many cardinals possess. The species resides in thick deciduous woodlands and suburbs.Females are yellowish on the underparts and olive on top, with yellow-olive-toned wings and tail. The adult male's winter plumage is similar ...
"The sunshine is pecullarliy genial..."
November 09, 2022 10:30 - 1 minute - 14.2 MBRudy shares some words about fall from Nathaniel Hawthorne, from The American Notebooks.
Northern red-bellied snakes
November 08, 2022 10:30 - 1 minute - 14.2 MBThe northern red-bellied snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) is a nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae, a subspecies of Storeria occipitomaculata. It is sometimes referred to as a fire snake. It is endemic, North America and The Caribbean in some parts in Jamaica, and Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia in the north and south to Florida and Texas. Adults grow to about 31 cm (12 in) in total length.
Katawba Valley Land Trust
November 07, 2022 10:30 - 1 minute - 14.2 MBThe Katawba Valley Land Trust is celebrating 30 years.
Netted stinkhorn
October 27, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.21 MBPhallus duplicatus (common name, netted stinkhorn or wood witch) is a species of fungus in the stinkhorn family. The bell-shaped to oval cap is green-brown, the cylindrical stalk is white. When mature the cap becomes sticky with a slimy green coating that attracts flies that disperse its spores, and it has a distinct, "netted" universal veil. The fungus is edible when still in the "egg" stage, before the fruit body has expanded. It grows often in public lawns, and can also be found in meadows.
Apache jumper spider
October 26, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.19 MBPhidippus apacheanus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is found in the United States, Mexico, and Cuba.
Tersa sphinx moths
October 25, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.18 MBXylophanes tersa, the tersa sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1771. It is found from the United States (Massachusetts south to southern Florida, west to Nebraska, New Mexico and southern Arizona), through Mexico, the West Indies and Central America and into parts of South America (including Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil). An occasional stray can be found as far north as Canada.
Slug caterpillars
October 24, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.19 MBThe Limacodidae or Eucleidae are a family of moths in the superfamily Zygaenoidea or the Cossoidea;[the placement is in dispute. They are often called slug moths because their caterpillars bear a distinct resemblance to slugs. The larvae are often liberally covered in protective stinging hairs, and are mostly tropical, but occur worldwide, with about 1800 described species and probably many more as yet undescribed species.
Mistletoe
October 21, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.54 MBMistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant.The eastern mistletoe native to North America, Phoradendron leucarpum, belongs to a distinct genus of the family Santalaceae.
Pine warblers
October 20, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.56 MBThe pine warbler (Setophaga pinus) is a small songbird of the New World warbler family.
Plants that are fruiting in the fall
October 19, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.55 MBMany plants are fruiting this time of year in South Carolina.
Where do pond turtles spend the winter?
October 18, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.54 MBPond turtles, or sliders, are specially equipped to spend the winter months in hibernation at the bottom of ponds.
Anglepod milkvine
October 17, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.58 MBAnglepod milkvine, also called anglepod, anglepod milkweed or angular-fruit milkvine, occurs throughout the southeastern U.S. from Texas to southeastern Kansas to southern Illinois and Indiana to Maryland and southward.
"Autumn"
October 14, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 14.4 MBRudy shares some words about autumn, and identifies a tree species.
Hickory horned devil
October 13, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 14.2 MBCitheronia regalis, the regal moth or royal walnut moth, is a North American moth in the family Saturniidae. The caterpillars are called hickory horned devils. The adult (imago) has a wingspan of 3.75-6.1 in (9.5-15.5 cm). The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793.
Zebra longwing butterflies
October 10, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.52 MBHeliconius charithonia, the zebra longwing or zebra heliconian, is a species of butterfly belonging to the subfamily Heliconiinae of the family Nymphalidae.[2][3] It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1767 12th edition of Systema Naturae. The boldly striped black and white wing pattern is aposematic, warning off predators.
Barred owls
October 07, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.2 MBThe barred owl (Strix varia), also known as the northern barred owl, striped owl or, more informally, hoot owl, is a North American large species of owl. A member of the true owl family, Strigidae, they belong to the genus Strix, which is also the origin of the family's name under Linnaean taxonomy. Barred owls are largely native to eastern North America, but have expanded their range to the west coast of North America where they are considered invasive. Mature forests are their preferred hab...
Warble flies
October 05, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.19 MBWarble fly is a name given to the genus Hypoderma: large flies which are parasitic on cattle and deer. Other names include "heel flies", "bomb flies" and "gadflies", while their larvae are often called "cattle grubs" or "wolves."
"Nature never did betray the heart that loved her."
October 04, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.2 MBRudy shares the words of William Wordsworth, from "Tinturn Abbey."
Juvenile yellow-crowned night heron
October 03, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.19 MBThe yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea), is one of two species of night herons found in the Americas, the other one being the black-crowned night heron. It is known as the bihoreau violacé in French and the pedrete corona clara in Spanish.
American dagger moth
September 30, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.55 MBAcronicta americana, the American dagger moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It was originally described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841 and is native to North America.
Green lacewing
September 29, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.55 MBGreen lacewings are insects in the large family Chrysopidae of the order Neuroptera. There are about 85 genera and (differing between sources) 1,300–2,000 species in this widespread group. Members of the genera Chrysopa and Chrysoperla are very common in North America and Europe; they are very similar.
When owls attack
September 28, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.55 MBAn owl attacks a jogger's ponytail. What's going on?
Palamedes swallowtail butterfly
September 27, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.54 MBPapilio palamedes, the Palamedes swallowtail or laurel swallowtail, is a North American butterfly in the family Papilionidae. This species may be found in habitats such as cypress swamplands, coastal swamplands, wet riparian forests, bay forests, and savannas in the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico.
Tobacco hornworms
September 26, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.56 MBCommonly known the tobacco hornworm and the goliath worm (as larvae), and as the Carolina sphinx moth and the tobacco hawk moth (as adults), the Manduca sexta is closely related to and often confused with the very similar tomato hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata).
Copse's gray tree frog
September 23, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.19 MBCope's gray treefrog (Dryophytes chrysoscelis), also called the southern gray treefrog is a species of treefrog found in the United States. It is almost indistinguishable from the gray treefrog (Dryophytes versicolor), and shares much of its geographic range.
Happy first day of fall!
September 22, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.21 MBThe autumnal equinox (sometimes called the September equinox or southward equinox) is the moment when the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading southward. Due to differences between the calendar year and the tropical year, the September equinox may occur anytime from September 21 to 24.
Saddleback caterpillar
September 21, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.55 MBThe saddleback caterpillar (Acharia stimulea, formerly Sibine stimulea) is the larva of a species of moth native to eastern North America. It is also found in Mexico. The species belongs to the family of slug caterpillars, Limacodidae.
Ailanthus moth
September 16, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.57 MBThe ailanthus webworm moth (Atteva aurea) is an ermine moth now found commonly in the United States. It was formerly known under the scientific name Atteva punctella (see Taxonomy section). This small, very colorful moth resembles a true bug or beetle when not in flight, but in flight it resembles a wasp.
Cicada nymph chimneys
September 15, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.56 MBThe cicadas are a superfamily, the Cicadoidea, of insects in the order Hemiptera (true bugs). They are in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha, along with smaller jumping bugs such as leafhoppers and froghoppers. The superfamily is divided into two families, the Tettigarctidae, with two species in Australia, and the Cicadidae, with more than 3,000 species described from around the world; many species remain undescribed.
Northern flicker
September 14, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.57 MBThe northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) or common flicker is a medium-sized bird of the woodpecker family. It is native to most of North America, parts of Central America, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands, and is one of the few woodpecker species that migrate.
Carolina pygmy rattlesnake
September 13, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.57 MBSistrurus miliarius, commonly called the pygmy rattlesnake, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Crotalinae (pit vipers) of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the Southeastern United States.
Bird's nest fungus
September 12, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.54 MBThe Nidulariaceae ('nidulus' - small nest) are a family of fungi in the order Agaricales. Commonly known as the bird's nest fungi, their fruiting bodies resemble tiny egg-filled birds' nests. As they are saprobic, feeding on decomposing organic matter, they are often seen growing on decaying wood and in soils enriched with wood chips or bark mulch; they have a widespread distribution in most ecological regions.
Fruiting season
September 09, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.19 MBRudy talks about the various woodland fruits that feed both wildlife and humans.
Wolf spiders
September 08, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.2 MBWolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae. They are robust and agile hunters with excellent eyesight. They live mostly in solitude, hunt alone, and do not spin webs. Some are opportunistic hunters, pouncing upon prey as they find it or chasing it over short distances; others wait for passing prey in or near the mouth of a burrow.
Fall: Season of change
September 07, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.22 MBRudy shares some verse from Percy Bysshe Shelley and prose from John Burrows.
Ironweed
September 06, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.21 MBVernonia noveboracensis (New York ironweed or vein-leaf hawkweed) is a plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae. It is native to the eastern United States, from Florida to Massachusetts and west to Tennessee, Alabama, and West Virginia and to southern Ontario.
Fall web worms
September 05, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.22 MBThe fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) is a moth in the family Erebidae known principally for its larval stage, which creates the characteristic webbed nests on the tree limbs of a wide variety of hardwoods in the late summer and fall. It is considered a pest but, does not harm otherwise healthy trees. It is well known to commercial tree services and arboriculturists.
Crane fly orchids
September 02, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.2 MBTipularia discolor, the crippled cranefly or crane-fly orchid, is a perennial terrestrial woodland orchid, a member of the family Orchidaceae. It is the only species of the genus Tipularia found in North America. It occurs in the southeastern United States from Texas to Florida, the range extending north into the Ohio Valley and along the Appalachians as far north as the Catskills. There are also isolated populations in Massachusetts and in the Great Lakes region.
Rosey maple moth
September 01, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.18 MBDryocampa rubicunda, the rosy maple moth, is a small North American moth in the family Saturniidae, also known as the great silk moths. It was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793. The species is known for its wooly body and pink and yellow coloration, which varies from cream or white to bright pink or yellow.[2] Males have bushier antennae than females, which allow them to sense female pheromones for mating.
Greenhouse millipedes
August 31, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.2 MBThe greenhouse millipede (Oxidus gracilis), also known as the hothouse millipede, short-flange millipede, or garden millipede, is a species of millipede in the family Paradoxosomatidae that has been widely introduced around the world, and is sometimes a pest in greenhouses. Greenhouse millipedes are thought to be native to Japan, but have been introduced globally. They are found in the tropics as well as temperate North and South America, and all of Europe.
Stalked puffball-in-aspic
August 30, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.2 MBCalostoma cinnabarinum is a species of gasteroid fungus in the family Sclerodermataceae, and is the type species of the genus Calostoma. It is known by several common names, including stalked puffball-in-aspic and gelatinous stalked-puffball. The fruit body has a distinctive color and overall appearance, featuring a layer of yellowish jelly surrounding a bright red, spherical head approximately 2 centimeters (0.8 in) in diameter atop a red or yellowish brown spongy stipe 1.5 to 4 cm (0.6 to 2...
Eastern cicada killers
August 29, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 2.19 MBSphecius speciosus, often simply referred to as the cicada killer or the cicada hawk, is a large, solitary digger wasp species in the family Crabronidae. The name may be applied to any species of crabronid that preys on cicadas, though in North America, it is typically applied to this species, also referred to as the eastern cicada killer in order to further differentiate it from the multiple other examples of related wasp species. Sometimes, they are called sand hornets, although they are no...
False potato beetle
August 26, 2022 09:29 - 1 minute - 1.56 MBThe false potato beetle (Leptinotarsa juncta) is a beetle found primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. Its distribution extends to Maine.
Black-bellied whistling duck
August 23, 2022 09:30 - 1 minute - 1.57 MBThe black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis), formerly called the black-bellied tree duck, is a whistling duck that breeds from the southernmost United States, Mexico, and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the US, it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida, parts of southeast Texas, coastal Alabama and Mississippi and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennesse...