What beastie is chewing on my plants?

[thaymond]

Ok HBT, I need a little advice/help. The tips on 3 of my 4 plants all have been cut. What little beastie is doing this! I haven't had this problem before and I'm a little annoyed. I know that these will eventually be fine, but the smaller plants are 1st year and I'm trying to establish them. Here are the pics.

NUGGET


ZEUS


CHINOOK

 

[brewmadness]

Deer or Rabbit? looks like they were nipped right off. I haven't had an issue with anything bothering mine, and have wildlife all around.

 

[thaymond]

Would a bunny just clip the tops and not eat it? I didn't have this problem before. I dunno.

 

[day_trippr]

Looking at the soil atop that bed I'd think hoof prints wouldn't be hard to see...

Cheers!

 

[Wingnutt73]

Has it been windy? I know this spring weather sometimes cause crazy storms. maybe they just got blown over to hard and broke. if not then Like brewmadness its a rabbit or deer. I know I had deer eating mine last year.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

I do not know if it was a deer or rabbit, they usally take the whole plant. Cutworms? Are most of the tips that have been snipped still there? If so spray, I use NEEM oil. It works for 2 weeks on what is sprayed, but obviously not on new growth.

 

[krackin]

Cutworms. Spray with BT.

 

[thaymond]

Looking at the soil atop that bed I'd think hoof prints wouldn't be hard to see...

Cheers!

Thanks for the responses!

Were totally fenced in. There's no chance of deer. Bunnies are a possibility, but they avoid this part of the yard.

What is a cutworm?

 

[ObsidianJester]

It is hard to say with out more images/tracks. Deer you would see tracks if your loose soil goes out three more feet.

Bunnies are my leaning. I've had them damage my plants (Not hops though.) in similar ways.
They may try to eat it but get scared and run off and leave it behind.

 

[thaymond]

So 9 inches cut off the top of the 4 foot bine.

Either the world's tallest bunny with an eating disorder, or its a bug of some sort. I bought neem oil this weekend too. That's annoying.



Its a clean cut too. Cutworm? What am I even looking for?

 

[day_trippr]

Bird seeking nesting material?

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

So 9 inches cut off the top of the 4 foot bine. View attachment 196405

Either the world's tallest bunny with an eating disorder, or its a bug of some sort. I bought neem oil this weekend too. That's annoying.
View attachment 196406
View attachment 196407

Its a clean cut too. Cutworm? What am I even looking for?

found it

Hop eating hermaphrobunny

usually attacks around Easter

 

[thaymond]

found it

Hop eating hermaphrobunny

usually attacks around Easter

There's a whole family under my deck!

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

There's a whole family under my deck!

A NO NO or a razor usally works as a repellant! LOL Neem oil not so much on this pest.

 

[kilohertz]

I would second the bird opinion....every year I put out my pumpkin seedlings and within a day, most are bit off and left there. They look like worms. I have watched them attack the seedlings and just nip them off at the tip. Buggars.

Good luck..maybe some bird netting until they get established.

Cheers

Paul

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Dude, shoot them!

 

[Cbaddad]

If they are birds, hang some cds on string in the yard. The reflection that is thrown off of them as they spin in the wind scares them off. I know it sounds strange, but it works great in my vegetable garden.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

The cd's work great!

 

[kilohertz]

I find that Willie Nelson or ABBA CDs seem to be the most effective.

Otherwise you can buy the shiney red/chrome reflective mylar tape at garden centers and that is what I am using and works great also.

Have fun.

Paul

 

[krackin]

Army worms are similar to cut worms and often work higher on plants taking off tomato branches as an example. When you see new damage carefully root around in the dirt 1-2 " deep up to 1 foot away. You will usually find the culprit.