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Black specks like poppy seeds

Lyn Plant-WellsLyn Plant-Wells Posts: 338
in Fruit & veg
I have a pot with a pelargonium (from cutting) in my shed, which is waiting to go into a hanging basket. Over the past few days the mat underneath has tiny black seed-like things under the plant. What is this?  The plant is healthy, apart from one leaf which appears to have been chewed! (see pic.) 🤔

Posts

  • Lyn Plant-WellsLyn Plant-Wells Posts: 338
    Sorry - realise this was in the wrong ‘department!’
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I suspect that the black seed like things might be droppings from whatever is eating your plant. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • Lyn Plant-WellsLyn Plant-Wells Posts: 338
    Thanks Uff. I did wonder about that. Whatever it is must be master of disguise as I can’t see anything! 😠
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Oooo they come out in the dead of night wearing a balaclava and carrying a torch. Mark my words  :D
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    I’ve had the same problem on pelargoniums over the winter in my cold greenhouse. Very wriggly bright green caterpillars that seem to weave to hold a leaf together to reside in…they got squished.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    They are the tiniest caterpillars,  exactly the same colour as the stems,  you have to look really hard to see them.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Lyn Plant-WellsLyn Plant-Wells Posts: 338
    Thanks folks. I think I saw these little blighters on one of my other plants. I will examine the one in question with my reading specs! 🧐
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