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nibblers

Which nibbler(s) did this damage?

Mike Haasl

steward

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Location: Northern WI (zone 4)

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posted 7 years ago

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I just wandered around the garden to find a nibbled tomato, leek and pepper.

The tomato has a leaf that was chomped and the whole top of the plant was nipped off. No plant pieces were in the area. The top nibble was a good 8" off the ground.

The leek(s) were eaten off at ground level with the cut off leaves laying on the ground.

The pepper could be disease or a critter or a bug. The plant was flopped over with a bad spot in the stem just above ground. It broke off when I moved a leaf for the picture.

The garden is fenced well for deer and I believe rabbits (chicken wire around the perimeter down low, 7.5' fence). Voles are a frequently in the garden. I think chipmunks could get in but I rarely or never see them. Birds have full access if they can fly.

Any ideas?

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bernetta putnam

pollinator

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Location: Mena ,Arkansas zone7

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posted 7 years ago

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kinda looks trample and torn, not eaten.

Bee Putnam

Mike Haasl

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posted 7 years ago

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It does look that way in the photos, but the beds were undisturbed. I'm guessing it's just the voles but I haven't seen their holes yet this year.

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John Weiland

pollinator

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Location: RRV of da Nort, USA

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posted 7 years ago

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Just saw this, Mike. I'm betting cutworms...? Looks very much like the damage we typically see although for some reason we eeked by this year with minimal damage. I'm pretty sure we lost 2-3 tomato plants and 1-2 peppers from them. You won't see them by day, but if you go out into the garden around midnight or later, very often you can catch them in the act. See https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/cutworms and peruse Google Images for keyword "cutworms" to see if it jibes with this possibility.

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Mike Haasl

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posted 7 years ago

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Hmmm, that could certainly be it John... I've dug up plenty of grubs but didn't know what they were or what they'd turn into. They're generally white but I think I've seen some darker ones too (as in that link). I think I'll get the headlamp out and take a quick walk.

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Mike Haasl

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Location: Northern WI (zone 4)

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posted 7 years ago

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No pests out there except for the mosquitoes... They've been nibbling the leeks worst of all. I'll take another closer look in the morning. Thanks!

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Mary Beth Alexander

pioneer

Posts: 84

Location: Douglas County, WI zone 4a 105 acres

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posted 6 years ago

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Howdy, neighbor Mike. Have horrible infestation of cutworms - taking lettuce, spinach, peas so far - right at the ground level. DID NOT know they could do this. Last year protected all my transplants with popsicle sticks and also never lost a lettuce sprouted in the garden. Tilling my corn patch couple weeks ago found MANY of all sizes, but sure I didn't get them all. STILL haven't planted nightshades, etc (so dry and windy + frost warning tonite!), but will protect them with sticks.
What did you do last year/this Spring? Do you think it's too late to try BTK? What a sucky Spring for me ... we got not a drop from Cristobal! OR any other recent potential rain events. We can see it coming on the radar, but the lake causes them to fizzle out. Was hoping and waiting for "sure" things - may have lost a couple fruit trees. Checking them today while watering for 3-hrs total of all garden/orchard.
Sorry for venting .. purpose here is to learn about cutworm control from anybody. TYVM

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John Weiland

pollinator

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Location: RRV of da Nort, USA

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posted 6 years ago

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Lost a bunch of tomato plants as well, probably cutworms by the look of it. Pyrethrin dust is considered relatively safe and I would use that to retard more cutworm damage, but in minimizing the total use of such measures in the garden over the growing season, I need to reserve it for the colorado potato beetle (CPB) which started attacking my potato plants soon after they emerged! Cutworms are a pain....sorry I don't have any useful tips except rounding through the garden every 30 minutes with a flashlight....through the entire night. Which for most people is not really an option... ;-/

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Mary Beth Alexander

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Location: Douglas County, WI zone 4a 105 acres

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posted 6 years ago

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John, this newbie had stunning potatoes last year - I'm knocking on wood - not a bug, nor any yet.
Yeah, I thought about the night-time duty with a "head-lamp", but having enough al-ke-hol to get me to stay up that late would probably be counterproductive, LOL.
I've cut up a bunch of bamboo skewers and will be using them next to smaller lettuce, etc - with popsicle sticks next to my nightshades.
Wishing you and all the best for 2020!

Innovations that are guided by smallholder farmers, adapted to local circumstances, and sustainable for the economy and environment will be necessary to ensure food security in the future. Bill Gates

Drew Moffatt

pollinator

Posts: 276

Location: New Zealand

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posted 6 years ago

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Hares have a habit of chopping down new things.

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