Bite Marks on my Green Bean and Pepper Plants(with pics!!)?

Willow's Garden

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So today I was in my garden and I notice all these bite marks on the green bean plant leaves and the pepper plant leaves. I'll try to get some pictures up later today. But do you have any idea what made these marks? Bugs? It looks like parts of the leaf is just gone or has been ripped off. Is there anything I can do to stop this damage to my plants?
 

hoodat

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Willow's Garden said:
So today I was in my garden and I notice all these bite marks on the green bean plant leaves and the pepper plant leaves. I'll try to get some pictures up later today. But do you have any idea what made these marks? Bugs? It looks like parts of the leaf is just gone or has been ripped off. Is there anything I can do to stop this damage to my plants?
If the damage looks the same on both plants It would pretty much rule out insects. Almost all of them are species specific and will feed on only one plant ot family of plants. Peppers and beans are too far apart to attract the same insect. My suspicion would be that a rabbit is getting into your garden.
 

vfem

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hoodat said:
Willow's Garden said:
So today I was in my garden and I notice all these bite marks on the green bean plant leaves and the pepper plant leaves. I'll try to get some pictures up later today. But do you have any idea what made these marks? Bugs? It looks like parts of the leaf is just gone or has been ripped off. Is there anything I can do to stop this damage to my plants?
If the damage looks the same on both plants It would pretty much rule out insects. Almost all of them are species specific and will feed on only one plant ot family of plants. Peppers and beans are too far apart to attract the same insect. My suspicion would be that a rabbit is getting into your garden.
Yeah, if they are being HUGELY munched off, and they seems to be the same on multiple plants... I'm thinking rabbit too!
 

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I've very comfortable it's insect damage.
 

hoodat

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After seeing the pics I'd say snails or slugs mainly with possibly some catterpillar damage also.
 

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After pics., I agree, as animal bites would just be on edges. Look under leaves and on ground and under mulch for culprits. You may need to go out after dark with a flashlight. Lotta damage in a hurry makes me vote for caterpillar of some sort.
 

hoodat

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That pic of the leaf eaten completely down to the midrib on one side and the other side not touched makes me think hornworm. That's kind of their signature. Look for a humongous catterpillar that is as long as your finger. It's amazing how invisible such a large catterpillar can be. You can be looking right at one and not see it till it moves.
 

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What can I do to keep the insect away from the plants and stop the damage?
 
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