Chris_CXC
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Location: Los Angeles, CA

What is eating my broccoli?

Something is ravaging my Broccoli. I took this photo.

Any thoughts?
Attachments
bug.jpg

imafan26
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Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

The insect looks like some kind of aphid. It reminds me of a pea aphid but they usually have rounder bellies. It is more likely that the chewing is being done by slugs/snails or caterpillars. If you haven't found green cabbage worms under your broccoli leaves, seen green poop on the leaves, or seen those pesky white butterflies around, it is probably snails or slugs

https://simonleather.wordpress.com/category/aphidology/

Link to cabbage white butterfly below.

https://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/con ... -butterfly

Chris_CXC
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Location: Los Angeles, CA

I thought it was an aphids as well. I got a bunch of lady bugs and sprinkled a bunch of them on the plant last night. They were still there this morning, but as of today (when I took that picture) they were all gone.

I inspected the plant pretty well and found nothing but that bug. I looked for any signs of slugs/snails, but no trails or shiny spots.

I've attached some more photos.
Attachments
photo 2.JPG
photo 2.JPG (39.77 KiB) Viewed 1673 times
photo 1.JPG
photo 1.JPG (59.94 KiB) Viewed 1673 times

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applestar
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RIGHT THERE
image.jpg

Chris_CXC
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Location: Los Angeles, CA

WOW! Great eye! I feel pretty stupid now....

I will re-inspect in the morning. Just pick them off?

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rainbowgardener
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Well, I'm thinking you could possibly have more than one thing going on.

The first picture you posted most of the damage was on the leaf edges. That is probably your cabbage worm:

Image
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/USS//blogfiles/1 ... iginal.jpg


Image
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_k8Tpf_YTDhg/T ... 0+2010.jpg

Later pics had holes in the middle of leaves. The cabbage worm can do that also, but it is very typical of slugs/ snails (which are the major pest of my broccoli).

Image

You will usually never see the slug unless you come out late at night with a flashlight to look for them.



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