What’s Eating My Melon Seedlings?

And what can I do about it organically…

I’ll be rotating melons out of this spot next year (and probably the following year also) but meanwhile… who is eating my seedlings and what can be done about it?  Pictures attached.  I don’t see any critters on there.  Location is northern Rhode Island, USA.

It could be from cucumber beetles. They hide in the soil near the base of seedlings and come out at night to nibble on the plants.

Wonder if DE would help - I’ll do some research, thanks!

It could also be slugs or snails. See the scrape marks on the leaf surface? That's how they eat, kind of like little slimy orbital sanders. The telltale would be the presence of slime trails.

A ring of ashes around the seedlings will help protect them until it gets washed away by rain.