A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Plant pests and problems Plant pest

Help! Something is eating my newly planted Black-eyed Susan! I started them from seed, babied them, planted them out and even put some Slug-go out (very necessary in Portland, Oregon) and they are being devoured! Hope someone can help! Below is my blog- it's the first image.

Thanks

Tessa

My Garden of Weeden

Anyone else having problems seeing the pictures? I just switched to blogspot and have it set so anyone can view it- plugin problem? I checked and a friend of mine can see them fine- not sure what the problem is. Thanks.

Tessa Neill

I click the link I posted and it goes right to the sight for me- I don't get it. I'll try the picture another way- http://picasaweb.google.com/tessaneill/Garden2008/photo?authkey=g3YeVQh8v2U#5198208625894866930


hope this works!

Tessa

I saw your pictures fine from both ways, your original link and the new link. It looks like slug damage to me. Do the leaves look slimy or shiny at all?? That's another clue it could be slugs. Try to go out early in the morning to catch them.

Well, I thought about slugs, but no slime trails (went out late at night with flash lite) or any other evidence of them. And, I put out some Slug-go early this year so I hardly ever see slugs, even of my lettuce. The leaves have literally been skeletonized overnight- I'm just not sure the chewing pattern is right for slugs that and no trails. I'm thinking a beetle, but really I have no idea! I'm very rapidly losing the plants though! When I have slugs, I go out with a flash lite and can find them easily- not this time. Thanks though, and thanks for letting me know my pics are ok. :)

Tessa

I don't think it is slug damage, it does appear to be a beetle of some sort. A good insecticide to use would be Merit. It works systemically and comes up into the plant from the roots. This makes it only poisonous to the insects who will eat the plant itself and not bother the beneficial ones in your garden as much.