What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna?

southlatropical · 03-18-2008, 12:34 PM

I do not believe leaf rollers are doing this. They never bothered the heliconia or BOP before and the damage appears different from what leaf rollers usually do. What all these plants have in common is that they are weak and just recovering from winter (Stuttgart was very small when winter arrived). The heliconia leaves are coming out already chewed up. It's not the usual row of holes like with a leaf roller. After the leaf pushes out it continues to deteriorate. I have not been able to spot the insects that are doing this. Any ideas??

D_&_T · 03-18-2008, 01:46 PM

We have trouble with bore or cut worms up here at times.

mskitty38583 · 03-18-2008, 03:15 PM

slugs and catapillers, it looks like

southlatropical · 03-18-2008, 08:27 PM

Well I was going to put out some slug and snail killer anyway for my C. microspadix palms I just planted I guess I'll put it around these victims also. I think I still have some malatheon (that can't be spelled right) in the shed also. I'll look these critters up and see what works best on them. Thanks for the help.

southlatropical · 03-18-2008, 09:17 PM

Ahhhh, I just read that Triazicide is effective on cut worms (which come out at night from below the soil). I dumped Triazicide all around the effected plants yesterday because I was already killing some fire ants. Hopfully that did the trick.

southlatropical · 03-18-2008, 09:19 PM

I just read that Triazicide is effective on cut worms (which come out at night from below the soil). I dumped Triazicide all around the effected plants yesterday because I was already killing some fire ants. Hopfully that did the trick.

sandy0225 · 03-19-2008, 03:58 PM

Looks like slugs or caterpillars. Look and see if they have a shiny trail where slugs were there, or if they have caterpillars on them.

lorax · 03-19-2008, 05:34 PM

The ones with the browned, chafed-looking spots are most probably slugs. The poor nanner looks like leaf-cutter bees or wasps got it, or catepillars. The damage isn't really typical of cutworms, so I'd be on the lookout for maybe cabbage moths or something.

Lilith · 03-19-2008, 05:36 PM

Are you sure you don't have grasshoppers? They descend here and eat lots of stuff, really really FAST. Now you see it, now you don;t. And they are very good at hiding.

island cassie · 03-19-2008, 08:35 PM

I agree that it looks like the work of several different insects/animals, but I would start with slug bait!

Cassie

STEELVIPER · 03-19-2008, 08:43 PM

dig around the base of the plant. just below the surface. sometimes there can be brown caterpillars just below the surface. they come out at night and chomp. Also check the plants at night. get the flash light and catch the culprit/s.

lorax · 03-20-2008, 11:50 PM

Those are cutworms.

For long-lasting slug protection, get some copper mesh and ring the plants. The slugs won't touch it.

mskitty38583 · 03-21-2008, 09:10 AM

thanks for that info, i was gonna do the grape juice thing, the mesh sounds better.

lorax · 03-21-2008, 12:08 PM

If you've got a Lee Valley or Veritas in your area, they carry the copper mesh for much much cheaper than other garden stores.

southlatropical · 03-22-2008, 09:40 AM

Thanks for the help everyone. I am going to try several things since I think this is more than one offender attacking the plants. Since I treated with Triazicide there has been no new damage. As for the slugs and snails, I have yet to go out and get some poison, but in the meantime I am putting copper wire (which I have lots of) and coffee grounds around the base of the plants. This was recomended over on the palmtalk.org forum for keeping them off the C. microspadix I just planted. Also suggested was putting out a saucer with beer in it which attracts and then traps the slugs/snails. I'm still trying to talk myself into giving the slugs my beer.

Dean W. · 03-22-2008, 10:29 AM

southlatropical, good luck!

southlatropical · 03-25-2008, 08:47 AM

I have a canary island date palm in a pot placed out in the garden. It sits on top of a round concrete stepping stone to ensure the pot drains well. I moved it yesterday and when I picked up the stepping stone low and behold there was a colony of slugs hanging out under it. They died in a violent massacre under a downpour from the salt shaker.

03-18-2008, 12:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
southlatropical Member southlatropical's Photo Gallery Location: Fordoche, Louisiana Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Isaac Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 420 BananaBucks : 206,526 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 196 Times in 83 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? I do not believe leaf rollers are doing this. They never bothered the heliconia or BOP before and the damage appears different from what leaf rollers usually do. What all these plants have in common is that they are weak and just recovering from winter (Stuttgart was very small when winter arrived). The heliconia leaves are coming out already chewed up. It's not the usual row of holes like with a leaf roller. After the leaf pushes out it continues to deteriorate. I have not been able to spot the insects that are doing this. Any ideas?? __________________

03-18-2008, 01:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
D_&_T 3rd winter growing indoor D_&_T's Photo Gallery Location: Northern Indiana Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Dan Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 877 BananaBucks : 40,420 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,437 Times Was Thanked 260 Times in 169 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 342 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? We have trouble with bore or cut worms up here at times. __________________

03-18-2008, 03:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 296,766 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? slugs and catapillers, it looks like __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

03-18-2008, 08:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
southlatropical Member southlatropical's Photo Gallery Location: Fordoche, Louisiana Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Isaac Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 420 BananaBucks : 206,526 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 196 Times in 83 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? Well I was going to put out some slug and snail killer anyway for my C. microspadix palms I just planted I guess I'll put it around these victims also. I think I still have some malatheon (that can't be spelled right) in the shed also. I'll look these critters up and see what works best on them. Thanks for the help. __________________

03-18-2008, 09:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
southlatropical Member southlatropical's Photo Gallery Location: Fordoche, Louisiana Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Isaac Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 420 BananaBucks : 206,526 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 196 Times in 83 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? Ahhhh, I just read that Triazicide is effective on cut worms (which come out at night from below the soil). I dumped Triazicide all around the effected plants yesterday because I was already killing some fire ants. Hopfully that did the trick. __________________

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03-18-2008, 09:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
southlatropical Member southlatropical's Photo Gallery Location: Fordoche, Louisiana Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Isaac Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 420 BananaBucks : 206,526 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 196 Times in 83 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? I just read that Triazicide is effective on cut worms (which come out at night from below the soil). I dumped Triazicide all around the effected plants yesterday because I was already killing some fire ants. Hopfully that did the trick. __________________

03-19-2008, 03:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 452,085 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? Looks like slugs or caterpillars. Look and see if they have a shiny trail where slugs were there, or if they have caterpillars on them. __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

03-19-2008, 05:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 377,767 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? The ones with the browned, chafed-looking spots are most probably slugs. The poor nanner looks like leaf-cutter bees or wasps got it, or catepillars. The damage isn't really typical of cutworms, so I'd be on the lookout for maybe cabbage moths or something.

03-19-2008, 05:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lilith Senior Member Lilith's Photo Gallery Location: sunny Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Gina Anne Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 341 BananaBucks : 124,477 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 20 Times Was Thanked 136 Times in 52 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? Are you sure you don't have grasshoppers? They descend here and eat lots of stuff, really really FAST. Now you see it, now you don;t. And they are very good at hiding. __________________ 11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50 2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00 4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38 10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457 1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09 2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415 Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC-- 2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

03-19-2008, 08:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,170 BananaBucks : 518,661 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,708 Times Was Thanked 2,079 Times in 874 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 416 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? I agree that it looks like the work of several different insects/animals, but I would start with slug bait! Cassie

03-19-2008, 08:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
STEELVIPER Mechwarrior STEELVIPER's Photo Gallery Location: Riverside,CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9B Name: Mark Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 724 BananaBucks : 122,621 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 44 Times Was Thanked 102 Times in 62 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 169 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? dig around the base of the plant. just below the surface. sometimes there can be brown caterpillars just below the surface. they come out at night and chomp. Also check the plants at night. get the flash light and catch the culprit/s. __________________

03-20-2008, 11:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 377,767 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? Those are cutworms. For long-lasting slug protection, get some copper mesh and ring the plants. The slugs won't touch it.

03-21-2008, 09:10 AM	#13 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 296,766 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? thanks for that info, i was gonna do the grape juice thing, the mesh sounds better. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

03-21-2008, 12:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 377,767 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? If you've got a Lee Valley or Veritas in your area, they carry the copper mesh for much much cheaper than other garden stores.

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03-22-2008, 09:40 AM	#15 (permalink)
southlatropical Member southlatropical's Photo Gallery Location: Fordoche, Louisiana Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Isaac Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 420 BananaBucks : 206,526 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 196 Times in 83 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? Thanks for the help everyone. I am going to try several things since I think this is more than one offender attacking the plants. Since I treated with Triazicide there has been no new damage. As for the slugs and snails, I have yet to go out and get some poison, but in the meantime I am putting copper wire (which I have lots of) and coffee grounds around the base of the plants. This was recomended over on the palmtalk.org forum for keeping them off the C. microspadix I just planted. Also suggested was putting out a saucer with beer in it which attracts and then traps the slugs/snails. I'm still trying to talk myself into giving the slugs my beer. __________________

03-22-2008, 10:29 AM	#16 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,279 BananaBucks : 295,403 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,325 Times Was Thanked 2,130 Times in 972 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 300 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? southlatropical, good luck! __________________

03-25-2008, 08:47 AM	#17 (permalink)
southlatropical Member southlatropical's Photo Gallery Location: Fordoche, Louisiana Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Isaac Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 420 BananaBucks : 206,526 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 196 Times in 83 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: What's eating my heliconia, BOP, and Stuttgart canna? I have a canary island date palm in a pot placed out in the garden. It sits on top of a round concrete stepping stone to ensure the pot drains well. I moved it yesterday and when I picked up the stepping stone low and behold there was a colony of slugs hanging out under it. They died in a violent massacre under a downpour from the salt shaker. __________________

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