[JDGen]

Hi All,

I have a libertia grandiflora which has alot of buds on it now, but something is eating them at the base of the flower.  There were already slug pellets down so  I don't think it is slugs or snails and I can't see anything when I look at the flowers.  Does anyone have any ideas what this could be?

Any help appreciated.

[sunshineband]

Are they being eaten from the back of the flower?

If so it could be bumble bees as they are after the nectar in the flower

[JDGen]

Sorry for the delay in replying.

The stem looks to be partially eaten through just below the start of the flower bud.  This means that the stem bends and the flower dies off before flowering.

Does that make sense?  If not I'll try and take a photograph...

Thanks for your help.  If it's a bumble bee I won't mind so much!

[sunshineband]

If the bud itself hasn't got a hole in it, it is not bumble bees.

There are caterpillars that live inside stems and then bite their way out to pupate.... that could be a cause too