What is eating my beans and dahlias?

7 years ago

Can someone identify what is chewing on my pole beans and dahlias? And the best course of action to stop it!!!

I do know I have slugs and pills bugs, along with what I believe I've figured out to be cabbage maggots (in my radishes).

Reading up on radishes and the cabbage maggots. No simply solution??? I'm reading insecticide put down when they are seeded and floating bed covers.

Thanks.

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Comments (8)

digdirt2
7 years ago
Sounds as if you already know the source of the problem. As for the solution for slugs and pill bugs - as often discussed here - Sluggo or one of the many other iron phospate baits.

For cabbage maggots, you are right - pre-planting soil pesticides or row covers. Row covers are easy to do and radishes thrive under them. If the fly can't get to them to lay the eggs then no maggots.

Dave
gartleyideas
Original Author
7 years ago
I actually have no idea what is eating my plants, that is why I posted. I simply said I do know I have slugs and pill bugs in my garden. Wouldn't slugs leave trails on the leaves? I see no trails. Anyone able to confirm what is eating the bean and dahlia leaves? Thanks.
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Humsi
7 years ago
Slugs/snails only leave trails until the trails evaporate. The damage on the leaves looks consistent with slugs/snails, but the best way to know for sure would be to go out at night with a flashlight and check.
gartleyideas
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Humsi, I'll try checking at night to see if I find them actually on the leaves. I've never seen snails here in 9 years but who knows? I find snails regularly if looking for them in town at the office. Maybe nickel sized? On ornamental trees and other shrubs/flowers.
Humsi
7 years ago
I just use slugs/snail interchangeably because they do the same sort of damage. I don't have slugs in my garden, but snails galore. Same damage, same nighttime eating habits, same cure - as Dave said, Sluggo if you do find them.
digdirt2
7 years ago
No offense was intended but when folks post pictures asking what did this the first follow-up question is always what have you seen in the way of pests. That is the only way anyone can narrow down the possibilities. A picture alone tells us little to nothing.

So if the poster already knows they have slugs the question is are they treating for them? If not and then they discover damage to the plants the odds are 8 out of 10 it is slugs doing the damage, right?

The easy way to prove it is simply to treat for slugs and when no further damage happens you know what was doing it.

Dave
fbx22
7 years ago
Cabbage maggots are a real tough one to deal with. I don't grow radish but I think row covers would be best. The crucifers I grow (cabbage, Brussels, and brocolli) are started as seedlings. I take 3 measures, well actually 4 to prevent them. 1st the stems get stem skirts made of cotton rounds. 2nd DE goes on top of that. 3rd they get sprayed with garden safe 3 in 1 to deter flies from even wanting to sit on th plants and 4th yellow sticky traps to help catch any that happen to land on them
gartleyideas
Original Author
7 years ago
fbx22 thanks. I'm not willing to quit on the radishes, I LOVE them, the spicier the better :) I'm less than impressed with these flies though ;)