It could be anything. Armadillos to Zebras (not really :), but I know that Armadillos can tear up a lawn and flowerbed. They don't want the plants, they want the bugs under the plants. Cats are also a possibility, though they are looking to use the site as a litter box. Personally, I would bet on the armadillo. To stop them, there is a spray that I use, which is basically a type of 'scare factor'. The scent is unpleasant to animals, invoking a fear response, which gets them to leave the area and look for a more welcoming garden. It will work for deer, voles, moles...just about anything. And it is humane. I've used Plantskydd for rats (I live out in the country) that were digging up my strawberries. It worked! I wish you well! I know how frustrating that can be. Here is a link that might be useful: Plantskydd

Sue it sounds like deer. In the spring they ate my leaves as they were emerging. But, last week, just the buds on one of my dl's, my strawberry plants and leaves off my cherry trees. Didn't touch my hostas right next to the DL or any of my roses. I was lucky they only ate the buds off one of my noids and the buds from one scape on the dl next to it. There were hoof prints in the mud where I had watered the night before so I'm positive it was deer. I mix 2 eggs with a gallon of water and mist my dl's once every other week. Seems to be working.... Knock on wood. Andrea

Just so everyone knows, daylilies - Hemerocallis species and hybrids - are not lilies despite that common name. They are not bulbs like true lilies (Lilium species and hybrids) but just a fleshy rooted perennial. But the buds and flowers can be browsed by various plant eating creatures just like true lilies and a host of other perennials and shrubs. In my garden with a moderate deer presence, the deer will often eat the flowers or flower buds off of just about anything, even for plants they normally avoid. So my vote would be deer damage.

..."Since the rains started here I have lost several cactus"... Isn't initial problem too much rain that possibly caused rotting that attracted bugs of any kind? Just like a flies/grubs feeding on decaying flesh (or even fresh, uncallused wound)...they didn't cause death of it, but certainly take advantage of feeding and laying eggs on their favorite...Too much rain could be the reason, and larvae or any bugs (likely laying more eggs!) a consequence of it. I would assure all succulents are in very fast draining mix, in containers with excellent drainage (holes) and if rains are persistent, perhaps use some extra rain protection. Even just an outdoors umbrella helps, or if many plants, plastic sheet or similar temporary protection.