Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Insect invasion

amandajstaleyamandajstaley Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Have planted winter pansies and primroses for the first time for a bit of winter cheer and the leaves are being eaten but i dont think its snails. Can anyone suggest the culprit and a friendly potion to irradicate the rascals
«1

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If it's not snails it's probably slugs ... go out in the evenings and first thing in the morning, look under the leaves etc and nab them ... what you do with them is up to you. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • amandajstaleyamandajstaley Posts: 3
    Thank you, i will do as suggested but the holes appear within the leaf not from the edge inwards but they are tricky. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Slugs and snails are quite capable of making holes within leaves because their mouthparts act as a rasp. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • amandajstaleyamandajstaley Posts: 3
    I'm on my way out I might hear them grinding their way through the foliage. Thank you.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    amandajstaley said:
    Thank you, i will do as suggested but the holes appear within the leaf not from the edge inwards but they are tricky. 
    Sounds like a disease called Pansy Leaf Shot. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • charlesclark1567charlesclark1567 Posts: 4
    I think it would be Sawflies who can chew holes that do not go all the way through the leaf, making it look intact but transparent. If you found any sawflies then you can kill them with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.

  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970
    Look for woodlice.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Woodlice are a gardening friend.  Not foe.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I dont think wood lice make  tiny holes in the middle of pansy leaves, I’ve never seen then do that. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    No, they shuffle around in the soil and detritus recyclling stuff.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
Sign In or Register to comment.