What's eating my flowers? (garden, kosher, yard)

[KellyCrash]

It's not the deer as a neighbor suggested because the leaves of my annuals have round cut outs in the center of the leaf. I told my husband to put up with Japanese Beetle catchers, but another neighbor said it's too early for those. So what could it be?

[*Sixy*]

Maybe slugs???

I found them all over my potted gerber daisies on my front porch.

I picked off (more like flicked off with a stick) the slugs on the flowers and leaves and then sprinkled kosher salt around the base of the pot. So far it has worked.

I'm not sure what you would do if your plants are in a garden though...someone else may be able to help.

[cstleddy]

Leaf cutter ants?

[lamishra]

could be slugs, caterpillars or ants. I also haven't seen any Japanese Beetles yet, they usually show up around mid June and leave a lacy looking hole in the leaves, not a cut out. I'd put my money on slugs or caterpillars. You can try salt, crushed egg shells or diatomaceous earth.

[CHTransplant]

I see lots of caterpillars this time of year. That'd be my fist guess.

[KellyCrash]

I have seen tons and tons of catepillars. My 5 year old loves to play with them. I bet that's it. Thanks lamishra, maybe I'll try some salt.

[DGMayor]

It must be the swine flu.

[no kudzu]

rabbits?

[cncsmomndad]

We have the same thing on some of our basil and broccoli leaves. I'm guessing caterpillars since they are abundant in our yard. Too early for Japanese Beetles. They usually make an appearance in June.

[Andy64]

We have plenty of beetles out by us that showed up the past few days. However, I dont really know which kind they are. Perhaps they are out earlier than expected.