The craziest thing happened for me. I had an African violet in my office. When I came into the office on Monday, the entire plant was gone!!! I was dumbounded and thought someone had played a mean prank. But today, the custodian and I did some investigating and found rat droppings around the office and have decided my poor plant was eaten by a rat that is someplace in office. Gross! That thing contaminated my office. I was sick thinking it all day. I did a search online tonight and found this discussion. I had never heard of an African violet being devoured by a rat.

Smivies: what an unfortuate meeting with a python!! Just the thought of it gives me the creeps. I have not seen the snake so far this year, and I have been in all areas of the garden. Perhaps they have not awakened yet. In the fall, I unwrapped a gourd and a baby snake came out of the paper wrapping. Really scared me. So I expected to see some more this year, but there are more dogs next door, and they are really vocal and sometimes come in my yard at night. So maybe they have left. Yugoslava, I am wondering what kind of snails you have in your area. A friend in Montreal has a invasion of rather large snails. I have seen the odd one, but they are very small and easily crushed between the fingers. The slugs have not yet come out, but something has been about while I was away for a few days - my bush beans are all eaten off. I hope it's not a rabbit. They destroyed my husbands neat rows of lettuce a few years ago. He has not grown any since. Happy summer, everyone!!!

Hahahahahahaha!!! Oh, how I wish it were a wombat!!! I just love the little blighters! Definitely not a capybara, though...I held one of those once, and got a really good look at it. I'm pretty sure I would recognize one again, even far away from its native riverland habitat. And speaking of Homer, let me just say this: DOH!!!! Never-miiiiiiiiiiiind! You have all made wonderful (or wonderfully funny) guesses, but I saw my mystery visitor today in full sunlight and at much closer range. DEFINITELY a rat. Period. Potter can have his shot at it today. I must have been on drugs yesterday (maybe some of that joyweed mentioned in the thread on Melissa's Before & After photos)! I don't know what I was thinking. Too much caffeine, perhaps. Or not enough. Perhaps I need more fiber in my diet. Or less. Certainly I need new glasses!! Sorry to have led you all on a wild rodent chase, but I sure enjoyed your answers! Thanks a million for the laughs! Marcia (hanging head in shame, and wandering off somewhere to hide!)

I found this link that might help: Posted by gardenguru1950 SunsetZ16 (My Page) on Sat, Aug 8, 09 at 13:06 The most common "eater" of rose leaves in California is the Bristly Rose Slug, the larvae of the Rose Sawfly. The sawfly is a pudgy little wasp. It lays its eggs on the UNDERSIDES of the leaves and the caterpillars feed on the UNDERSIDES of the leaves. The rose slug is tiny, no more than 1/4-inch long and very slender, and it's the exact same pale green as the undersides of the leaves. Talk about hard to see and find! It's the critter that "skelotinizes" rose leaves. It's pretty easy to get rid of, actually. Almost any good spray will do the job: insecticidal soap, Neem, pyrethrum. The trick is to spray thoroughly UNDER the leaves. Not stand back and spray all over. You have to get UNDER the leaves. By the way, a commonly suggested spray for rose sawfly is BT. It doesn't work. It doesn't work because it's meant for the caterpillars of moths and butterflies. The rose slug is the larvae of a wasp. And I'm not sure of any beneficial insect that preys upon it. As for your rose buds, Applenut has a good idea. Go outside late at night with a flashlight. The critter most likely is an earwig, sowbug or pillbug. It also might be a slug or snail. Joe Here is a link that might be useful: Bugs that eat roses' leaves