What happened to my Kale netting?

Hi everyone.
I use netting for my kale, which has worked great the past 2 years. This season I noticed 2 small holes in the net. Any thoughts on how this happened. This is a new net from spring. I’m in NWIndiana and use this to keep out cabbage moths.

I suppose there could be a bunch of reasons for ripped netting.

How robust is it?

Are there trees above? Could of been a branch.

I have had squirrels or groundhogs rip into some netting of mine before. It was a different type (fencing) than your kale netting but animals can be funny like that.

Edward, perhaps if you could please tell us where you live, we might be able to identify your net ripper. Also, why would you need to put a net over kale? If you explained  what type of pest you're using the the netting for, maybe that could provide us with another clue.

I sometimes use netting to keep birds, especially jays, away from my blueberries. This year, I'm netting some of my melons to prevent rodents (probably squirrels) from continuing to munch on them. But my kale never attracts any interest from rodents or birds. If I see aphids, I just remove the affected leaves or spray them off with water.

All sorts of reason are possible.

A passing cat, a sticky bug, a tree branch blowing in the breeze, etc.

I live in NW Indiana and use the net to keep cabbage moths out. No trees or sticks anywhere near to the net. The russian red kale does get tall and maybe rubbing on the net

Hmmm, I'm still perplexed as to what happened. I'm surprised that your kale plants get cabbage worms in the summer, those pests are usually only a problem here in Oregon on cabbages in late spring.

Anyway, maybe you could duct tape up the holes. Hope that will work...

Grasshoppers ate it. Or something. The larger hole, the leaf right under it looks to be eaten in the same shape even. Caterpillars maybe.

I only know because I have watched grasshoppers eat holes through the screens on my windows before.

M.K. Dorje Sr. wrote:Hmmm, I'm still perplexed as to what happened. I'm surprised that your kale plants get cabbage worms in the summer, those pests are usually only a problem here in Oregon on cabbages in late spring.  

Oof, I've gotten cabbage worms in any month of summer in two continents. Unpredictable and certainly not only springtime, for sure.

Rebecca Norman wrote:

M.K. Dorje Sr. wrote:Hmmm, I'm still perplexed as to what happened. I'm surprised that your kale plants get cabbage worms in the summer, those pests are usually only a problem here in Oregon on cabbages in late spring.  

Oof, I've gotten cabbage worms in any month of summer in two continents. Unpredictable and certainly not only springtime, for sure.

I just saw two cabbage moths mating on my eggplant this morning in MN.

Rebecca Norman wrote:

M.K. Dorje Sr. wrote:Hmmm, I'm still perplexed as to what happened. I'm surprised that your kale plants get cabbage worms in the summer, those pests are usually only a problem here in Oregon on cabbages in late spring.  

Oof, I've gotten cabbage worms in any month of summer in two continents. Unpredictable and certainly not only springtime, for sure.

Well, I did a little research and it turns out that cabbage worms are actually found in Oregon (and Indiana) throughout the year, peaking here from late spring to late summer. I guess I don't see them much, and when I do, I just pick them off and discard any rotten cabbage leaves. Thank you for correcting me.

Anyway, here's an article from Farmer's Almanac how to deal with them.

https://www.almanac.com/pest/cabbage-worms

J Katrak wrote:Grasshoppers ate it. Or something. The larger hole, the leaf right under it looks to be eaten in the same shape even. Caterpillars maybe..

Well spotted! - actually both holes in the net look like the leaf underneath was eaten at the same time. There is another hole in the leaf without a corresponding hole in the net though.
The net definitely looks like it is missing rather than torn, which implies something ate it. Maybe rodents? Did you work it out at all Edward?