Any idea what has been eating my epimedium and what can be done about it? (see attached photo. Please excuse the focus. Whatever this bug is, it also seems to cause photos to blur!). The damaged plants are in a 12x12ft. area and epimediums outside that area are not affected. Thanks in advance.
Possibly a leaf cutter bee. They do really neat perfect cut outs. Action.... none that I know of. Bees are generally beneficial. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05576.html
Yup, leaf-cutter bee. They also enjoy roses and fuchsias! It's fun to see the bee in action or to see the spot where the bee takes the leaf to shelter her progeny. I've come to like the wacky look of the "damaged" leaves. Fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly...
Thank you both. I'm relieved this is not serious infestation but actually ecologically healthy. I agree, Debby. As "pests" go, they have good taste in plants and an excellent sense of form, befitting of the epimedium. Most clever them bees.
