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Something is very hungry. And very fussy

TantyTanty Posts: 59
in Problem solving

Hi - Hope someone out there can help, please!

I have young alstromeria plants which have started flowering and are gorgeous.  Problem is, before they flowered, the leaves were punctured with lots and lots (and lots) of tiny holes but nothing at the edges, and now the flowers have bite marks out of them all over - edges and petals and everywhere else.

It's not snails or slugs - there's no sign of them at all but nor can I find a single caterpillar (which is more what it looks like). Plants two feet away on either side remain untouched.  Any ideas?  Can anything be done about caterpillars at all?

Posts

  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    Hi, it sounds like flea beetle, which is tiny, sorry but i dont controal pests, so i dont know how to help, maybe you can google it? But im sure one of the others will know what to do image
  • TantyTanty Posts: 59

    Hi - I really appreciate the suggestion but not sure it's flea beetle.  The leaves are still healthy (though full of holes)...this one really has me stumped

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Pyrethrum (extracted from chrysanthemum species) is considered an organic control which is effective against flea beetles (or whatever they are.)  It has been used for centuries as a natural insecticide.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    Sorry, alstromeria is something ive never grown, despite really liking them, the damage sounds exactly like my brassicas image, either way i hope you get sorted image
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    I had a lot of plants chewed like that, just small holes in the leaves, then I spotted loads of shiny green leaf beetles. They seem to be forever mating, squash if you can, but a bio spray will kill them.

    I havent tried the garlic spray, that may work. I will try next year if I still have as many.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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