Any idea what's eating my chard?

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AliciaF Oakland Park, FL(Zone 10b) Dec 08, 2013

My chard has multiple holes in the leaves but I'm not seeing any bugs or other oddities on my plants. Any guesses and what to do about it?

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AliciaF Oakland Park, FL(Zone 10b) Dec 08, 2013

Oops pics didn't cross over!

Thumbnail by AliciaF Thumbnail by AliciaF
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Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Dec 09, 2013

Could be pill bugs. They come out after dark.

Sluggo PLUS (not the regular Sluggo -- get the PLUS), sprinkled around the soil. A little goes a long way, and will kill any pill bugs and slugs that cross the pellets.

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AliciaF Oakland Park, FL(Zone 10b) Dec 11, 2013

Thanks. I'll give it a shot. The plants are to pretty to let some bugs eat them up! 😛

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Kydaylilylady Waddy, KY Jan 27, 2014

Flea beatles. You have to look fast cause these little buggers bounce off plants just like fleas, hence the name.

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Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Jan 27, 2014

I think Kydaylilylady has nailed it. I didn't zoom in to see those perfect little pellet holes, a tell-tale flea beetle sign!

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Seedfork Enterprise, AL(Zone 8b) Jan 27, 2014

Yes that was the first thought that came to mind when I saw the holes, flea beetles, they love to eat my peppers and eggplant. I very seldom can find them, but I know they are there.

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drobarr Hummelstown, PA(Zone 6b) Jan 30, 2014

How is your chard coming along now? I too think they are most likely damage from flea beetles. Diamond back moth larva can also cause similar damage as well but you would likely find small 1/3 of an inch long worm somewhere...though they also can be quite elusive. In some cases diseases like cercospora can cause shot hole formations as well but I dont see any other signs of that disease.

You could apply Neem oil making sure to get both sides of the leaves and hopefully do the trick.

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AliciaF Oakland Park, FL(Zone 10b) Jan 31, 2014

Chard continues to grow nicely with the occasional bite taken out of it but damage is not bad enough to worry about or not eat. I did do a neem oil spray and that helped. Thanks for asking and all the advice!

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