Could be grasshoppers. They often decimate my plants. Sorry mm, that really blows. Maybe they will come back from the sticks.

Can you cover them with anytthing to keep the critters out? If you can find an air conditioning repair person, grab the wire screen thingy that is part of all units. My neighbor has an a/c business and my husband recycles scrap metal. A true entrepenurial match. I have several of those wire thingies and they work great as trellis and crop protectors. That's what's covering my corn bed.

The "sticks" look to be budding, so maybe they'll come back. I was wondering what type of "fencing" was on the 3 sisters bed you have, that is true genius. Would've never thought of that, and we recycle scrap as well. Small world :)