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Don't know what's eating my hostas

gardenfanatic2003

14 years ago

All the hostas in one bed have something eating them, and I don't know what it could be. It's not slug or snail damage. The ends of the leaves look shredded and jagged. I would think if it was a rabbit, it would go ahead and eat the entire leaf, not just the ends of it. Anyone have any ideas?

Deanna

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Comments (7)

anitamo
14 years ago
Deer leave a jagged edge, and don't always eat the entire leaf.
gardenfanatic2003
Original Author
14 years ago
I found a pic online that looks like it, and it's blister beetles. I've not noticed those on my hostas, and I've definitely not had this kind of damage before. Who knows, maybe I did see the bugs and just thought they were fireflies. It's weird that they would be around this year, and just be in that one bed and not in all of them. Now that my hostas are practically all eaten in that one bed, I don't know if it's worth it to spray. I wonder if the plants will even come back next year since they're so heavily damaged. I'll post the link in case anyone else has mystery damage that they can't identify.

Deanna

Here is a link that might be useful: Blister beetle damage on hosta
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Janice
14 years ago
Well, I finally have concluded what has done the most damage to my hosta this year--it's sow/pill bugs!
I thought it was slugs, but the most damage was those doggone things!

I just found some tiny babies eating their way up the length of a petiole, today and there were some
adults burrowed in the base of the plant munching away doing a lot of damage! I've never had such a
year with the kind of damage they've done! They completely dismantled an entire 'Cathedral Windows'
for me, early on, before I realized who was the culprit! GRRR And I have a barrel of 'Capt. Kirk' almost
completely 'timbered'!!! You know, like 'TIMBER' as the petioles all are sawn off and laying over, not to
mention two 'Plantagineas' almost completely done in!! Dbl GRRR GRRR!
Janice
14 years ago
Found a pic. of them 'guys'--I'm sure they must be 'guys'! hehehe

{{gwi:1092869}}{{gwi:1092870}}
chris-e
14 years ago
Oh man, disgusting little things. These aren't the same thing as the potato bugs or roly-polys are they?

What's the cure?

christine
gardenfanatic2003
Original Author
14 years ago
Janice, I didn't know pill bugs would eat live plants! I just thought they went for decaying vegetation...that's aggravating. The bugs have been bad this year for me.

Deanna
Janice
14 years ago
Christine--they are also known as 'Roly Polys'! I used some sevin spray but I think it might have
been best to use the powder--hate the white stuff but I just think it may work better!!

I don't care what they say--they ARE munching their way up the petioles and around the base of them,
into the crowns!

Eye witness account fer shur!!! And, I use to think they were SO cute!!! Not anymore!

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