Lol, I saw your other post and didn't answer because it could be too many things.

The fact that the veins were left behind in one of the photos suggests worms or bugs, but that's not the case in all the pics. If it was a critter, they felt they had time to be choosey. No eating-on-the-run there.

Possibly cabbage loopers?

I'm thinking rabbits....doesn't really look like what cabbage worms do to my plants. Do you see any signs of frass anywhere? It should be very visible with all of that feeding going on.

My guess would also be cabbage loopers--look for little, and growing green "worms", mostly on the undersides of the leaves, and look for their frass--their poop.

I did. It's been raining A LOT,is the frass sticky?

Im with Laceyvail. Check under the leaves and I am sure you will find a bunch of little green caterpillars. They love all cole crops and will devour the leaves in a few weeks. Spray em with BT.

It isn't just the plants that clue you in to what is doing it. Examine them closely. Down on the knees and use your hands. But also carefully check the surroundings. Animals leave tracks and droppings. Note what types of wildlife you see in the area. Do you know for a fact that you have rabbits?

I find it hard to believe it is loopers as to do that amount of damage it has either been going on for many days and not noticed or there would be so many of them that you'd see them easily.

Whatever did it most of the plants are well beyond saving and should just be trashed.

Dave

definitely loopers. You will love BT a month from now. Rabbits don't do skeletons and don't do holes in the middle of the leaf. They chop leaves half way, that is their style.

(I was going to guess slugs or snails, but not puppy dog tails!)

I have been on my hands and knees and haven't seen one caterpillar. I am going back out there as its fiannly stopped raining.

I'm not sure how long it's been going on, I was in AZ for a month and a half and my 12 yo was watering for me.

I have a groundhog for sure. He's a pain in the ass and has learned how to climb the tree behind my fence to get into my yard. Then he can't get out and freaks out.

Smartest idiot animal in my area.

At any rate I swear I can't see poo or bugs. Maybe baby bunnies?????

I wish I could just sit out there lol

"I'm not sure how long it's been going on, I was in AZ for a month and a half"

That's plenty of time for cabbage worms or loopers to do that kind of damage and then go off to pupate. Could explain why you aren't seeing any cats on the plants.

Rodney

Edit for clarification: When I used the term "cats" I was referring to caterpillars.

My groundhog did not leave ribs on the leaves.

Do you see small to medium white butterflies flying about your yard.

I've had snails leave my artichokes looking almost identical to your first two pics. I could see cabbage loopers doing that also, if you had a severe infestation of them, but I'd expect more holes in the lower parts of the leaves and the new growth on the bottom pic if it were loopers.

completely wrong weirdtrev. if you google that, you will see damage that does not look like that. Only loopers avoid veins.

I think I had two - maybe 3 - issues. Loopers, groundhogs and cats.

When my chickens got at my kale earlier in the spring, that's what they left.

>So what is the good way to combat loopers?<

As others said above - Bt is used for loopers. Spray or dust. Sold under several brand names (Dipel, Thuricide, etc.) and be sure to read the label this time before using.

At this point it really makes no difference what did it so it is pointless to debate that issue. Any garden that goes for any length of time, much less a month and a half, without careful monitoring for pests, damage, and disease will always suffer losses from something or another. So the bottom line is that our (the gardener's) neglect, did it. But you do what you have to do, learn the lessons, and then move on.

Dave

Yea, my dad was totally not thoughtful with that whole emergency triple bypass, mitrovalve repair and aorta replacement

He could have totally waited until I had my cabbage in order.

Which is why I said "you do what you have to do".

We have all been there and had to leave the garden at some time for one reason or another. We come home, even after a brief absence, knowing that bad things happened to the garden while we were gone simply because gardens can't prosper without the regular attention. So we pull and pitch the damage, replant when possible or plant a new crop of something else and move on.

My point is there is nothing gained by worrying or arguing (as some seem determined to do) about what may or may not have happened to these plants - cats, rabbits, loopers, groundhogs, crows, or aliens - because there is nothing you can do about it but pull and pitch them and be glad you could be there for your Dad instead.

Dave

Just want to clarify that in my previous comment when I said "Could explain why you aren't seeing any cats on the plants." I was referring to caterpillars. Not felines.

Rodney

Theforgottenone1013 yeeeeaaaaa I was scratching my head about that. Lol

My broccoli looked like that & it turned out to possums - apparently, they like broccoli as much as I do...

i keep bunnies away by posting my dog outside as a security guard at eve times when they are active, if you have a dog this is a good idea