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Weird non-slug holes in leaves (Warning - photos)
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Posted by Fitzerroneous z4 MN (My Page) on Tue, Jul 12, 05 at 18:29
| Wow, you guys are my problem solvers this week. Anyone had this happen?
I'm getting strange holes in one of my hostas and the mini rose next to it. I know it's not slug damage because before the hole, an irregular patch of leaf turns transparent. Within the few days, the transparent part flakes away (or something) and leaves an irregular hole.
This happened to the hosta last year, and I think the rose as well. They've been in that spot for several years. The only change I've made was to swap them last spring - I moved the rose forward about a foot and the hosta back (what would possess me to plant a mini rose behind a hosta?). Last fall I posted this question to the hosta board and everyone told me the plant was getting too much sun. That's obviously not the case since these plants have been here quite happily for a number of years.
Last year there wasn't a single leaf left on this rose by winter. I'm hoping someone knows what this is and how I can treat it. Thanks in advance for any help!
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Weird non-slug holes in leaves (Warning - photos)
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| Have you noticed any bugs on the leaves that might be eating them?? |
RE: Weird non-slug holes in leaves (Warning - photos)
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| I also have this on some hostas and roses. I think it's sawfly larve damage. It's been an epidemic in many states on roses this season, but I had this on my hosta's last year too. I think neem oil helps with this pest. I'm not sure about other insecticides since I'm very reluctant to use them since they kill beneficials and set off a cycle of spider mites. I have one one bush that can't seem to shake it off, so I may go that route. |
RE: Weird non-slug holes in leaves (Warning - photos)
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| UGH! The bottom one looks like Japanese Beetle damage. They REALLY love rose leaves. Neem oil does indeed work on sawfly larvae, the beetles, and any loopers too. -Marie |
RE: Weird non-slug holes in leaves (Warning - photos)
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| Thanks. I've inspected these plants at all different times of day and night and haven't found any bugs, so they must be pretty well hidden. I've never used Neem oil - is it completely safe? It sounds like it's definitely not a chemical pesticide. |
RE: Weird non-slug holes in leaves (Warning - photos)
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| I've got some plants that look just like yours. I mix up a concoction of 1 quart of water, 1 tsp. baking soda and 1/2 tsp Neem oil. Seems to be doing the trick. I got my Neem oil off ebay. It seems safe - haven't noticed any damage to the plants or blooms. |
RE: Weird non-slug holes in leaves (Warning - photos)
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| Rose, do I need to get the top and bottom of each leaf as I spray your mix? That might be really hard to do with the hosta, but I know a lot of remedies don't work if you don't totally coat the leaves. |
RE: Weird non-slug holes in leaves (Warning - photos)
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| The holes in the rose look like the sawfly larvae (aka 'rose slug') damage that are devastating my roses this year. Apparently they're not real finicky about what they eat (rose leaves, buds, stems) as well as my Columbines-- sometimes they eat those small transparent holes in the leaves, sometimes they edge along the leaf and devour it as they go. Look for little green caterpillar-worms under leaves or curled up inside them. I haven't had much luck with the neem oil, but I have a major infestation. Definitely spray under the leaves as they hide out there, and spray the ground around the plant, as I read that they pupate there. a couple of web pages I found helpful (and totally icky):
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/euroslug.html
http://www.ars.org/About_Roses/pests_slugs.htm
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/hgic/diagn/broad/roseslug.html I haven't had any sawfly larvae on my hosta -- yet that is. Good luck! |
RE: Weird non-slug holes in leaves (Warning - photos)
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| Saw on my hostas tonight bugs similar in size and shape to box elder and lightning bugs only they are black and white. They have torn my hostas up just like the photos and also with stringy ends on leaves. I haven't yet looked up the name of these bugs maybe someone else already knows. My bushes were loaded with them. I signed up to share this. I'm not much of a gardener. |
RE: Weird non-slug holes in leaves (Warning - photos)
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mshiffl,
Start a new thread. more people will see your post. You can also try the pests and diseases forum |
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