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Questions and Answers: 2021

Question: Abutilon theophasti - 3 plants, each about 4inches shorter than the others. In an estalished vegetable garden in Westerly, RI. …

• Question

  Abutilon theophasti - 3 plants, each about 4inches shorter than the others. In an estalished vegetable garden in Westerly, RI. I have gardened this space for over 30 years and have never seen in before. In back of a house built in 1734. 3 miles from CT border in the lower southeast of RI. Rec'd a terrible insect bite- any known insects inhabit this? Never seen this bite before either - black dot w/red dots around it. Looks like red dots are the "babies". Big sting when it hit! Spreading

  Answer

  Dear hvalpatricia, this plant frequently shows up in cultivated spaces and can arrive through a variety of means, including as a contaminant in the seeds of other species and in manure from other locations. I do not have information about specific insects that utilize this species over others for a host. Best wishes.