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Something is Eating Holes in My Leaves...WTF???

^ hornworms are also moth caterpillars.

800px-Manduca_quinquemaculata_adult_female.JPG
 
i thought horn worms were sphinx moths...? i raised a couple when i was younger and one came out looking like a sphinx, and another was a giant moth with orange spots...

AC_Sphinx%20moth%20from%20MDC.jpg

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i guess there are several types of hornworms...
 
Interestingly enough...I didn't avtually kill that thing. I walked him out to a giant weed in my pasture, and told him to dine away on it instead. Chances are, he got eaten...
 
Nice lunchbox... I dunno what it was about them but I never had the urge to squish them even before I knew what they turned into; they reminded me of the caterpillar from Alice in wonderland. Prolly did get eaten though
 
Mezo said:
Interesting, i just took a pic of my plants with holes.

holes1.jpg


holes2.jpg


And the only thing i can see hanging around (and its always there) is this little thing, don't know what it is or if its a good thing or a bad thing?

insect1.jpg


insect2.jpg


At least you have caught your culprit.

Mezo.
Click to expand...
The fly in the picture is called a long-legged fly, it's predatory and therefore good  :) As for the holes I have a few that just recently appeared in my hab plant, looks like someone literally pricked them with the very tip of a pin, a few of the holes are starting to turn brown around the edges.  My guess is flea beetles? anyone know for sure?  I can post pics if needed.
 
Yes beetles are likely.  You don't necessarily need to catch one in the act to take action against them.  Try spray-bottle applying some neem oil or homemade HOT sauce (just cooked & strained pepper juice, no vinegar/salt/etc).  
 
If that doesn't take care of the problem there are more aggressive chemicals like Sevin powder but be aware that it is deadly to some beneficial pollinating insects too.
 
On the other hand, a certain amount of insect damage is tolerable.  The pictured leaves look a bit like they're suffering more from lack of nitrogen than the holes... though it might just be the lighting.
 
Glad you caught them in the act.  Do earwigs cause similar leaf damage?  I seem to have a small population in my garden under the mulch.  Not sure if they are friend, or foe.
 
LOL...I see my baby post from last year...
 
This year...I'm hands off...just lettin' shit happen.  I'm only hunting down aphids...everything else can get after it.
 
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