Hops nibbled on... here and there...

[FxdGrMind]

But I can't find the culprit! I have found worm eggs (spider web under leaf) and have pinched them off and squashed the leaf and eggs into oblivion.

What would eat 1" of the side of the top of one bine, 1 lobe of one leaf on another etc. There are no clear infected or bines that are "attacked" by anything that might be systematically eating my hop bines.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Not that my hop bines are doing poorly, they are 5-9' tall and some have multiple bines from the same Rhizome (1st year) and many have side arms starting (some 20" long already) The leaves are as big or bigger than my hand. So I think they are healty, I just have this, what appears to be an "Occasional" pest that decides to take a nibble.

Any ideas?

 

[Sunnovah]

Hmm, Can't grow hops where I am at, but I have had something similar happen to my jalapeno's. I believe the culprit to be snails in my case. Not sure if they are fond of hops though.

 

[Jmac]

Catepillars, snails and slugs are what I have found that eats the leaves so far.. This is my first year growing anything so I hope this helps.

 

[FxdGrMind]

I'm thinking Catepillars , but I'd have thought they would have eaten more or still been there when I noticed the nibbling.

Good news is that nothing big nibbled today.

 

[pilotdane]

I had to check many leaves before I caught them in the act. I've found tiny catepillars about 1/4 inch long. I had to look very close to see them. My bines are growing strong and far outrowing the little buggers eating them so I have not sprayed or tried any treatment. I figure it is just part of nature and they do not seem to be doing serious damage.

 

[FxdGrMind]

Thanks Pilotdane. I'll look for 1/4" catepillars. As you say they aren't doing "Significant" damage and the bines are growing tremendously. 18" in 4 days this week!

So as you, I haven't done anything more other than keep a close eye on them and pinch the bugs I find to keep everything healthy.

As I'm in the country and my water supply is via my pond and well, I'm not really interested in spraying anything.

So long as my hops make it well through this year as it's my first, next year will be the true test and hopefully significant Hoppage =)

 

[chode720]

Sounds like they may be budworms. I get them on my roses all the time and those buggers eat tons of little holes in the leaves. If thats what they are, you will find small green worms, curled up on the underside of the leaf, usually by the base

 

[FxdGrMind]

Ok, just went out to check this morning.


AAARRRGGGG!! Bas-ard-s!!!! The one Cascade that had one of the bines topped... had the other one topped too.....

So my next question, will the arms growing from the top leaf pit, start growing and replace the tip? Or is this one now officially done??

It's interesting that the this one plant is the only one that has been so savaged, all the rest are just nibbles (little holes in the leaves).

I still haven't found the culprit. Seems that it maybe happening at night though as all was well at 8 pm last night.

Any ideas as to Night preditors???

 

[Rick500]

Just went out to find that one of my cascades had a 20' bine eaten through about 6" above the ground. Grrr.

I made a clean cut through the bine a little further up and put it in some water. I'm pretty sure it will wither and die, but it'll be interesting to see if I can save it somehow.

Anyway, the other bine will use all that extra energy, I hope.

 

[jzrawlins]

My first year hops are getting their leaves chewed up as well. I finally caught a slug in the act the other day. We have had a VERY wet beginning if summer. I have several Hostas near the hops and last night I noticed they are infested with slugs.

So last night I cut down a plastic cup to about 1" high and put an ounce or so of the current IPA I have on tap and set it right in the middle of the worst hosta.

This morning, there are about 15 drowned slugs in the bottom. I think I'm onto something here.....

 

[lunk]

Spray a little soap water on the leaves and it may kill and prevent insects.

 

[MajorTom]

If you see a butterfly around your hops they are laying eggs on them. I have caught them in the act! They deposit tiny metallic/shiny eggs about the size of the head of a pin. You almost need a magnifying glass to see them. They will hatch in two or three days and a tiny caterpillar slightly less than a quarter inch long will eat your leaves. I have found several of them. It amazes me how small they are and how fast they can make large holes in the leaves.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Congratulation!

You now have a glimpse of what the next several years to decades have in store for you. Keep up the hunt.