Is this leaf miners?

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Dogs_N_Petunias Cleburne, TX(Zone 8a) Mar 27, 2011

My poppies have a lot of this damage on its lower leaves. Also, some of my Shasta daisies (Becky cultivar) have similar damage. I want my garden to be safe for butterflies and birds. I'm unsure what I should treat this with.

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JoParrott Richland, WA(Zone 7b) Mar 27, 2011

Seeing the black droppings makes me think it is a worm- maybe a cabbage worm, or some other- but I don't think it's leaf miner-

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Dogs_N_Petunias Cleburne, TX(Zone 8a) Mar 27, 2011

Thanks. Haven't had anything like this before this year, so didn't know if those black things were poop or eggs. I'll do some research on cabbage worm.

We had ice storm, freezing weather this year for the first time in a long time. During it, we kept saying what the "old folks" (I think that's us now) used to say that freezing weather was good because it would eliminate bugs, grasshoppers, etc. Well... we've had grasshoppers a month ago and more and earlier pests in the yard than ever before !!

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Garden_Sass Central, TX(Zone 8b) Apr 03, 2011

Definitely chewing insect damage; worms are the likely culprits. A spray containing Bt is an effective way to handle pest worms (when they're young). Bt breaks down within 24 hours so do spray in the afternoon so it can do it's work into the night hours - some worms are nocturnal - and you may have to re-apply to keep the pest population down.
If you can identify the worm and it's a butterfly you want then you have a decision to make - flowers or butterflies!

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OCCAROL Santa Ana, CA(Zone 10b) Apr 03, 2011

I agree! Catterpillars, and BT will work on them. The one I use is called Catterpillar killer. I think it's by Safer, but can't find the bottle at the moment. It won't harm bees , or adult Butterflies.

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