It's not caused by a bug! I just read the email I received back from the Ag. Dept. and they told me that it was a virus that did all the neat designs. Aphids carry it from one plant to another. It called: Papaya ringspot virus. Go figure. Even though it's a virus I love the patterns one can get on the outside of the watermelon. We plan on looking forward to new patterns on our melons next year.
I was hoping that you'd discovered a, formally unknown, species of insect too. If you had it could have been named after you 'Tooty painting bug.'
It's not caused by a bug! It's kind of like "people ring worm". I guess the answer is to keep Aphids away from now on. Right? Barb in Pa.
Since we're a long way away from the papaya I guess I won't see any fancy artwork in our garden then. I'm glad you got an answer. It's always nice to know.
Eileen,Cayuga,waretrop, and Droopy: I to was hoping for a bug. Well in a way it is a bug. Aphids transfer the virus from one plant to another. So I can't claim the fame. Ya how the pattern forms is really a mystery. You would think that it would be just odd shapes since it's aphids that bringing the virus from on plant to another. But I love the patterns. That is a weird name for the virus since I am along way from a papaya also. Plus it's way to cold here for one to grow. I could send you a piece of watermelon rind with the virus on it. Then you would have neat looking patterns on your also. But I am sure that the Ag. dept might frown on it. Oh well. Now I don't have to do a stake out next summer. Just enjoy the art work.
Toot-- I was rather enjoying the mental image of you staking out your garden on the hunt of a mysterious artistic bug that you could catch red-handed (red-footed? red-mouthed?)! Ah me....I guess it is the sort of thing that is more enjoyable in imagination than in reality. If it were me, I guess I would feel a bit foolish skulking around my vegie patch, in the hopes of apprehending a bug!
Cayuga I might look a little suspicious skulking around my veggie patch in the dark. Plus out here one never knows what one might bump into. Skunks, raccoons, or possum. No thank you. I guess I will just let the aphids do their handy work and enjoy the results.
