On today's NatureNotes, Rudy Mancke helps a listener identify a juvenile black racer. While adult snakes of this species are known for their black coloring, young ones can often be multi-colored.

Pollen

Nov 6th, 2023 1m 21s

Rudy Mancke discusses pollen season and its effects on both plants and animals.

Yellowjackets

Nov 3rd, 2023 1m

Rudy Mancke discusses the breakdown of a yellowjacket nest.

Death and the circle of life

Nov 2nd, 2023 1m

As the world marks All Souls Day and Día de Muertos, Rudy Mancke reflects on the important of death in the natural world and the circle of life.

Crabapples

Nov 1st, 2023 1m

As we mark All Saints Day, Rudy Mancke discusses the harvest season and South Carolina's species of crabapples.

Marbled orbweaver aka 'Halloween spider'

Oct 31st, 2023 1m

Happy Halloween! Today on NatureNotes, Rudy Mancke looks at Araneus marmoreus, the marbled orbweaver, which is sometimes called the "Halloween spider" due to the female's orange coloring.

Mournful sphinx moth

Oct 30th, 2023 1m

As we celebrate the Halloween season, Rudy Mancke discusses the somber-looking mournful sphinx moth.

Summer tanagers

Oct 27th, 2023 1m 19s

Rudy Mancke helps a listener identify an adolescent summer tanager.

Monkey slugs

Oct 26th, 2023 1m 19s

Rudy Mancke discusses the hag moth and its larva commonly known as "monkey slugs."

Spiny-backed orb-weaver spider

Oct 25th, 2023 1m 19s

Gasteracantha cancriformis, the spiny-backed orb-weaver, is a species of spider whose females are known for their brightly colored, shell-like abdomens which have six prominent spines.

Mushrooms

Oct 24th, 2023 1m 19s

On today's NatureNotes, Rudy Mancke discusses common types of mushrooms.

'The October leaf-fading is a festival..."

Oct 23rd, 2023 1m 19s

Rudy Mancke reflects on a quote from Lucy Larcom's "Beckonings for Every Day."

Female railroad worm

Oct 20th, 2023 1m 19s

Rudy Mancke discusses the female railroad worm, a type of glow-worm, that is known for it bioluminescence.

Yellow in nature

Oct 19th, 2023 1m 19s

Rudy Mancke muses on the prevalence of the color yellow during autumn.

Longhorn beetle

Oct 18th, 2023 1m 19s

Listeners hear something that goes bump in the night, but Rudy Mancke says it's just a long-horned boring beetle.

'There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on...'

Oct 17th, 2023 1m 19s

On today's NatureNotes, Rudy Mancke reflects on a quote from Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The American Notebooks."

Found eastern box turtle shell

Oct 16th, 2023 1m 19s

Rudy Mancke helps a listener who found a discarded eastern box turtle shell on their deck.

Polyphemus moth caterpillar

Oct 13th, 2023 1m 19s

The caterpillar of Antheraea polyphemus, the polyhpemus moth, is known for its bright green coloration.

Mediterranean house gecko

Oct 12th, 2023 1m 19s

Hemidactylus turcicus, the Mediterranean house gecko, is a species of house gecko common to the Mediterranean area which has spread to many parts of the world.

Nursery web spider

Oct 11th, 2023 1m 19s

Nursery web spiders are so named because females of the species build tent-like webs to house their egg sacs as their young are about to hatch.

Pandorus sphinx moth

Oct 10th, 2023 1m 19s

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

Robust conehead katydid

Oct 9th, 2023 1m 19s

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.