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Something is eating my sweet pepper leaves - any idea what it is
and what I can do about it? The plants are in the greenhouse and
more than one is affected.
Could it be a Leaf Cutter bee?
I've had them coming in the green house the last few years looking for a spot to lay their eggs, they get a bit grumpy when I'm in there too and buzz me a bit, but I don't think nasty stingy things. My peppers had a similar appearance, though luckily they tend to do most of their cutting outside and then bring a bit of leaf in. They love compost filled pots!.
Thanks Jayb, it does look like a leaf cutter bee (I just googled)
Gardenersworld.com says
Wait for the solitary female and swish her away. Try to avoid killing the bees because they're invaluable friends to gardeners, pollinating flowers.
I'll just let them get on with it and hope they don't cut the entire
plant. I haven't got enough time to swish!
Umm, I don't know about 'swishing' they seem quite determined when they have their eye on laying in my pots! Same as you I just leave them get on with it. I do try and mark the pots they have been in so I don't turn them out by accident.
They're fascinating to watch and wont do much damage as they only make a few cells for egg laying. Some horizonal hollow stems in a range of sizes like you see in those ridiculously overpriced insect boxes, or even an old air brick placed in a warm spot should provide a more suitable place for their eggs, as well as a place for lacewings to hide.