I live in Lancaster, SC. I am a container gardener. I'm having difficulty finding what is chewing my cucumber, squash and tomato leaves. There is no discoloration around the chewed areas and thus far the damage has been minimal. I have checked my plants from the ground up and at various times throughout the day and night with no success at finding (or seeing) the culprit(s). Does anyone know what might be happening?
Can you show us a picture of the damage? It sounds like it might be from some type of beetle or cutworm, but without seeing the damage patterns, it will be difficult to diagnose the bug.
OK, that's definitely an odd damage pattern. I'd be looking for a beetle of some sort rather than a grub/cutworm or ants, since beetles are more likely to take out straight chunks, while the others make arced damage or tunnels. Also keep your eyes open for leafcutting wasps and bees - this isn't really their typical style but it is a possibility. If you want to try something preventative, give the plants a good soakdown in pyrethrum (chrysanthemum-derived insecticide) at a dilution of about 5:1 water to bug juice. If it's something so small that you can't see it, this will kill it dead in its tracks. However, if your plants are close to a water feature that contains fish, don't do this, because it will also kill your fish.
Hail damage? http://www.flickr.com/photos/14169601@N00/2549704386 http://134.84.92.129/GardenInfo/diagnostics/annualperennial/hosta/leavesholes.html
Yes: That is not chewing, that is a tear. Something has caused your plants to be subjected to mechanical damage.
Thanks Ron. We do get very heavy, forceful rains here. No hail yet to my knowledge. If we do, I have tarps to cover my plants. Again, thanks.
