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What has eaten my verbena bonariensis flower heads overnight ?

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  • susieb74susieb74 Posts: 10
    edited October 2023
    Watch this space, I’ll let you know if I manage to solve it.. I’ll do a wagath Christie “and the culprit is …?….”    :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
     :) 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Could it be cutworms? My most hated insect pest this year!
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Ok, thank you @Loxley, I’ll check those out with mr Google have a look around the plants
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Do you have any goldfinches in your area? I saw a couple last year eating the seedheads off mine. it's a bit early for that as I still have flowerheads like you but you never know.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Yes we do ! My goodness, as you say, not seed heads yet, but you never know.  Can I ask did they take the whole flower head off (like mine) or just take the seeds ?

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    From memory, just the seedheads I think.

    Interesting as I find the stalks are quite tough and I have to use secateurs to cut them down. I'm not sure whether goldfinches would be able to cut through them and they are messy little birds, you'd think they'd leave some evidence on the ground.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Taken off just at the little thin stalks where they separate for each little flower head that makes the clusters, not the main stalk..   there are some of the little petals on ground..  thanks, I'll keep watching !
  • peterdav9140529peterdav9140529 Posts: 4
    edited October 2023
    i have same problem, any other answer please?
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