TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORMS

Hi, I'm Mark, I like parasites, that's basically what this blog is about.

[marksparasites]

Observation – Retinia resinella ex Pinus sylvestris

This is the only species I've seen that uses resin to make a gall!

[ratcandy]

i think one of the coolest things I have learned in my plant pathology course this semester was When Viruses Look Pretty. which was not a key part of this course or even a specific topic we really covered, but I couldn't help but Notice it

like. watermelon mosaic virus my best friend..

that is So Pretty. and like. so devastating for watermelon but also got damn ......

and then like. a whole Event in history happened (dutch "Tulip Mania" in the 17th century) partially thanks to THESE fucking tulips

in which people were like Holy SHIT look at these Rare Tulips with Beautiful Color Patterns. I want these Tulips and I want to make a Ton of them so bad . sell them all and make a lot of Money. and then we find out years later that oohhh.... thas a virus. causing that. tulip breaking virus (TBV) specifically. hm. well

but isn't that neat. like yeah most viruses (and pathogens in general) don't do anything super outwardly interesting to that plant (i can't say necrotic leaf spots look all that striking when you see them 1 million times) but also Pleas.... pretty viruses my beloved. u are so bad on crops but i do enjoy Observing you

[marksparasites]

Observation – Puccinia aegopodii ex Aegopodium podagraria

[marksparasites]

Observation – Colopha compressa ex Ulmus sp.

[marksparasites]

Observation – Tetraneura ulmi ex Ulmus sp.

[marksparasites]

Observation – Phytomyza obscurella ex Aegopodium podagraria

[marksparasites]

Observation – Planococcus vovae (?) ex Cupressus sempervirens

[marksparasites]

Observation – Blumeria sp. ex Poaceae

Unassuming white scabs from afar, but beautiful pearls of conidia up-close!

[marksparasites]

Observation – Puccinia aegopodii ex Aegopodium podagraria

They look like tiny craters!

[marksparasites]

lunch time