what is eating my new clematis montana?

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narmaj Deventer, Netherlands(Zone 8a) Jul 30, 2017

Something is eating all the leaves starting from the top! Which makes me think it is not slug or snail. What could it be and any tips on how to save my very young clematis?
I have it climbing strings to lead it to dead branches and a tree that I want it to climb. One photo is two weeks ago. The totally leafless stem is from now (after two weeks absence and having put Escargo and coffee grounds around the base, in case it were snails. The pictures need to be turned 1/4 clockwise - it doesn't work for me.

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Cville_Gardener Clarksville, TN(Zone 7a) Jul 30, 2017

Looks like it could be earwig damage. They're only active at night.

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narmaj Deventer, Netherlands(Zone 8a) Aug 06, 2017

Thank you Cvlle. Didn't know they ate plants! I there any way of saving my clematis that you know of?

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Handroanthus Lynnwood, WA Jan 29, 2018

Ear wigs? that seems hard to believe. I would guess that it is either a beetle or caterpillar like larvae of some sort. In either case, you may want to go out at night with flashlight and a box top, place the box top on the ground and flash the light on the plant to see if you get anything. Alternatively, you could coat the plant with a soapy water mixture to see if that might thwart their eating efforts. curiously yours

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narmaj Deventer, Netherlands(Zone 8a) Apr 28, 2018

Thank you Handroanthus, This seems more feasible to me too. Unbelievably this clematis lived to see this spring and started growing leaves again, and again it's being eaten, whilst the other 3 I have in that area or being left alone! I will try the soap thing. I've put a double "slug fence" around it, but no results yet.

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