any chance of pictures to help us see what you're referring to?

Sorry it took so long. Didn't know how to upload. This is what the leaves look like. There are no critters on them.
Thank.

speaking of Annabelle Hydrangeas....OP sorry I don't have an answer for you and I hope you don't mind if I hijack this thread. However, many of my other plant leaves look like that and I believe it is grasshoppers. I've seen them around.

My Annabelle has gotten quite large this yr. but no sign of blooms. Is it early for blooms now? It did bloom last yr. and I only pruned back slightly. Plus it is very leggy. I have it in a shady corner...could it be reaching for more sun? Can AH take sun. If so I may transplant in the fall.

I haven't seen any grasshoppers around, but I do have a ton of earwigs and my Sedum is being eaten as well. Don't know is earwigs do this.

Earwigs or caterpillars most likely. If you don't see them during the day, you'll need to go out at night with a flashlight. Then pick them off and dunk into soapy water to kill them. Or spray with insecticidal soap. To trap earwigs, put down wet rolled up newspaper and check each day. The earwigs will hide in there.

Have you had a problem with japanese beetles? Another possibility and same solution.