[greenhead]

Hi all,  after the third attempt most of my beans are through but the leaves are been eaten at the edges - little nibbles no more than 3mm across,  what is causing this? - no sign of slugs anywhere.  Is there a cure out there?

Thanks for any tips.

[Trebor]

Pea and Bean Weevils - I get the same, but to be honest dosen't really do that much damage in the long run.

[Janeymiddlewife]

Agree with trebor - wish I'd started mine in pots now so they got a head start before pwesky critters anihilated them. I cannot tell you what I sprayed them with as I found it when clearing out dad's shed - sufficwe to say elf an safety have banned it! Sorry for spelling typing left handwed, right arm in sling having overdone it painting 2 trellis, both sides, not a lot, but my tennis elbow doesn't like it - promised littl'un we'd go swimming now - oh dear!!

[noshed]

Mine are like that but I don't think it'll do much harm.

[mumofstig]

they usually just grow through it, without any problem

[Trikidiki]

If its small semi-circular notches cut from the edges of the leaves, I beleive this is caused by leaf cutter bees. They will not eat any further into the leaf than the depth of the notches you are seeing so will not cause a big prolem to the beans.

The notches they cut are rolled up and put into holes where they lay an egg. The leaves are the food for the larvae when they hatch.

Bearing in mind that garden centres everywhere sell nice little nest boxes for these solitary bees, one would hope they don't cause major damage.

[mumofstig]

The leaf cutter bees take a larger piece than the small vee shaped bites that the weevils take.
At the moment the bees are making a right mess of the new leaves on my shrub roses and no weevils so far this year

[Aunt Sally]

I have weevils biting my broad beans.  I'll send you some to release on your beans if you like Mum 

[mumofstig]

I have weevils biting my broad beans.  I'll send you some to release on your beans if you like Mum 

Very kind of you, but it's such a lot of trouble to go to.....when I'm sure they will make their own way here in time ..pesky little things and their leaf miner friends as well 

[Paul Plots]

Such little pests to worry about...

Foxes - now there's something with stomping great feet! 

I've had to put canes and netting right around my broad beans to prevent the critters prancing right through them.

Seems our local (what is the collective noun for foxes?) "prance" of foxes take delight in digging in soil that has had pelletted chicken manure added... and dancing in newly rotovated soil....right through my Broad Beans given the chance. 

I grew mine in paper pots and planted them out a few days ago... here's hoping the green netting acts as a good camouflage! 

[willowman]

Noticed my beans starting to emerge last week, so I cut the bottoms off 2 litre pop bottles and covered them, giving each bean its own little cloche.
Fingers crossed.

[maxie]

I must have millions of these little beasties as they would damage the emerging  broad beans and peas that much i have to plant them all in guttering and pots,and transplant them when they are big enough to survive the attack.