Buggy in Arky

Help! Do any of you have any idea what might be doing this to my brug? I've looked through my book and I don't see anything exactly like this. All the leaves are clean, healthy appearing and I haven't seen any bugs, with exception of bees. We've had wind but I don't have any plants with exception of a few brugs with the problem and none are side by side, just an occasional leaf with holes in it, no bug signs that I can identify, just big ole torn holes. It looks like cats, but I haven't seen a single one. Will a centipede do that? I've not seen one on a plant or any sort, but may be? I've been having trouble reading this forum today, and if you have too, but see this, please post me privately if you cannot reach the forum if you have any idea what this is and what I should do. I would like to make a surprise attack before night, if you might help me identify the cluprit. Thanks!!!! SherryLike

Sherry, did you have a little bit of hail by any chance? That will definitely tear the leaves.

something nibbling at the new growth as it unfurls?

Have you had wind/rain? Sometimes sticks or tree branches when they fall, do this to the leaves. Doesn't look like bug bites.

I have a pine tree of the neighbors that have needles falling that will do something like that to the leaves. Anything falling from trees around the area?

That happens to me leaves when we have a very hard rain, and also pine needles do that to me here, too.

High winds do the same thing to mine. I agree for the most part those aren't the product of any bug IMHO lol...I wouldnt worry about it though...they look healthy and green to me Sherry :)

Thank every single one of you, I appreciate your posts so much. When it comes to brugs, I tend to cry wolf at the least thing, tho I thought the torn up leaves were awful and I couldn't imagine the size of a bug/pest that could eat those kinds of holes. All leaves are unusually healthy, for me, and yep, we had 5 inches of rain and wind. Now that i look at the leaves more closely, I can see a band of injured leaves with undamaged leaves on the bottom and the new growth is fine, and I'm sure those leaves were damaged in the storm. You guys are super - I hope you all have a special weekend!!!

Glad you got it solved, Sherry. Mine look worse than that from the high winds we've been having.

Thanks, Ada! I'm getting slightly more confident with regard to the bugs/pests. Maybe I didn't see everything last year, maybe it just seemed like I did, but I would have been really surprised if this damage had been done by a bug, but I hated to go to bed without doing something, if it had been a pest. If I could have one gardening wish, it would be 'no more bugs'!!!!!

Sherry , I am agreeing with the rain damage theory, thank goodness,
but oh, to be a fly on the wall watching you outside in the middle of the night stalking bugs in your jammies LOL, now that's the kind of stuff brugs will drive you to do!

Hey, Jackie, you are right, and in my pink girlie jammies. But, I was successful, I found two stink bugs!!! My hubby says they are BAD - is there a particular product that is successful with them?? Surely, I have something here that will work. I've googled stink bugs but it doesn't name a particular product. I'm going out with my magnifying glass to read on all the bottles and hopefully I'll find stink bug before it's too late to spray this am...

http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/veg/ef305.htm Sherry, here is an article that gives a description of how stink bugs damage corn crops.

What else is going to come along & damage our beloved brugs! Makes me feel sad to think of it! ;-(

Good luck in your ability to eradicate yet another pest, Sherry!!

Thanks, Brugie!! Margie, the good thing is that the Sevin I already have, will work on the Stinkbugs, and, in this area, I'm told, with good results. That's the ONLY good thing about it, assuming it works, whew!!

Be sure they are stink bugs first.. there is something that looks very similar called an assassin bug..it eats pests so you want to keep those :)

Woo boy, Jazzpunkin, I had no idea there are two that look that similar. I check out both bugs and see which one I have. Thanks so much for the info!!!!

Jazz, mine is definitely a Stinkbug. I appreciate your letting me know!!!!!

You are welcome.. I have stinkbugs or squash bugs as they are called here in OHiYa but I am always hoping they are assassin bugs...sigh

Jazz, I love Cincy and I have a couple of other OHiYa pals, I've enjoyed your state and I'm nutz for Skyline Spaghetti, five ways, anyways, it's absolutely one of my favs!!!!!!!!!