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Growing from Seed

seedlings being eaten up

13 years ago

Hi all,

Everywhere on the Internet, it says to look for the offending insect/animal and then take care of it. It's not that easy sometimes. I have seedlings that get eaten on and I have no idea what it is. It could be snails (no trails seen), earwigs, or something else.

They are all eaten usually from margins inward. I'm planting nasturtiums, chives, putting out tuna cans with veggie oil for the earwigs, trying everything I can. I'm almost ready to give up and try sevin. I hate the idea, what else can one do? I could buy BT, but what if it's not caterpillars. Any ideas? Is it the fact that it still is spring? When it heats up more will they leave the seedlings alone? Thanks!

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Comment (1)

morz8 - Washington Coast
13 years ago
Much of the time, the culprits you are looking for are night feeders. Have you tried going out after dark with a flashlight and taking a look?

I usually have good luck identifying a pest at night, beginning right after dusk and sometimes needing to make a second trip later - if the pest is dining late that evening :)
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