Any ideas what critter is eating my houseplants?

[MartinNicklin]

So far all my tradescantia plants and a 3ft tall impatiens have been eaten. Almost every leaf on every plant. No slugs or evidence of bugs under the pots.
Hopefully someone can ID the culprits from the evidence left???









The begonias next to these plants were not touched??? :? :?
PS Apols for image quality. Can’t get used to the camera on this new phone which is supposed to be much better than my last one :roll:

[AndyC]

Martin, that looks like caterpillar damage to me. It is possible that the beastie has had its fill of your plants and has rolled itself into a leaf to pupate so making itself difficult to predate (and find).

[Chad]

Or adult vine weevil?

Chad

[charlie]

I am afraid I agree with Chad, Vine weevil as the damage is from the edges, check for grubs in the pots and if found hit them with a nematode drench ASAP

[MartinNicklin]

Thank you Andy, Charlie and Chad. Stupidly I didn't put two and two together ... My wife said to me the other day she had seen some weevil-like bugs in the house. I know the grubs damage the roots which would explain why when I moved the Impatiens today (that magnificent specimen I posted on GOTE last year sent to me by another member) the entire plant separated itself from the roots but I didn't see grubs in the soil so I assume they have matured into the weevils. I didn't know the adults were such voracious foliage destroyers and this has all happened so quickly without me noticing it. Bloody things.

[AndyC]

Yes, Vine Weevil, I can see that now. It is such a long time ago that I was unfortunate enough to import them into my Polytunnel that I had forgotten how damaging they can be.
Hope you manage to eradicate them asap.

[MartinNicklin]

Yes I have Andy ... I've thrown the plants away!

[JohnH]

Yes I have Andy ... I've thrown the plants away!

If only it were that simple.
Once you have seen the adults, and the damage they cause, the next generation will already be on the way in amongst other indoor plants and escapees in the garden too.
Vine Weevil are all 'female' ( there is a name for this, but I can't remember it) and ready to lay eggs as soon as they emerge and have gorged on some greenery.

I once imported some grubs as passengers on a batch of Heuchera several years ago in an old garden, and didn't realise untill the seemingly healthy crowns became detached from their roots. There is no easy way to kill the adults using chemicals, the best method is knocking them off their favourite leaves at night and crushing them.
As Charlie said, I would recommend a soaking with weevil nematodes to kill the grubs now and again in late Summer/early Autumn to catch this seasons hatchlings.

I have just noticed that a couple of garden supply firms are advertising nematodes in easy to use pellet form, rather than the usual mix and spray refrigerated version.
https://www.woolmans.com/products/nemak ... il-control

[MartinNicklin]

Oh my God. How to ruin someone's evening! ;)
Will keep a vigilant eye out and invest in some remedial treatment. Lily beetles have been another bloody nuisance. Me once glorious tree lilies and my prize pardalinum giganteum bulbs are all in the bin after the beetles decimated them last year.

[JohnH]

Sorry Martin, I didn't mean to give you sleepless nights. :|
When we had a problem stronger systemic chemicals were around and nematodes were only just becoming available, but they were still a nightmare to get rid of.
It was one the main reasons we didn't bring any plants with us when we moved.
It will be interesting to hear if the new generation of easy to apply nematodes work.