Hi, hope someone may be able to help. My runner beans leaves are getting decimated by something, low down and around 18 inches from the ground. No silvery trail, but leaves are very skeletal. Today, I've had a good look on them, the only thing found was a beetle that was under 1cm and turquoise in colour ? Could this be the culprit. Thanks.
Hi
Dont rule out rabbits or pidgeons!!
Duke
Welcome to A4A Clover... have you put out some beer traps to draw away the critters (molluscs) or a temporary cage of netting to keep off the flying rats..
:-\
Hi, thanks for the replies. Yes, have a slug beer bath in place and also a solitary can, wasn't sure about pigeons, we have a lot around but these leaves are a good 18" up the canes, would pigeons manage that ?
I'd have thought 12-15" is the max.... maybe you have very big pigeons... it's not the beetle. I'd still put money on abseiling slugs... they can climb.. I've even had snails on upstairs window sills... :-X
Ok, will up the anti with the slug patrol, and maybe I'll put some more cans out to see if it's pigeons. Thanks.
it's probably earwig damage, make an earwig trap from an upturned container (yoghurt pot/3"plant pot) full of straw / hay / dried grass, put this on a stick about 2 - 3 ft high.
rgds, tony ;)
I`ve found over the last few years that snails are getting very adept at climbing the supporting canes, and I frequently find them hidden behind the foliage a good 4 - 5 ft above ground.