Identification - Ask Extension
Can you identify what is on my Sage plant?
Knowledgebase
Identification #879688
Asked August 01, 2024, 9:20 AM EDT
Can you identify what is on my Sage plant?
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
We assume that this is not moving, right?
It appears to be sawdust-like frass, which is
a mixture of inner stem material and insect excrement.
Look at plant stems above that leaf and see if you find a hole in a stem with an insect moving this material out, which is then sprinkling on this leaf. It is not of great concern, especially this late in the season and may be a beneficial insect using the plant as you'd see here:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/18-014.pdf
You could prune it out if you like.
Christine
It appears to be sawdust-like frass, which is
a mixture of inner stem material and insect excrement.
Look at plant stems above that leaf and see if you find a hole in a stem with an insect moving this material out, which is then sprinkling on this leaf. It is not of great concern, especially this late in the season and may be a beneficial insect using the plant as you'd see here:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/18-014.pdf
You could prune it out if you like.
Christine
