Mom's eggplant is in bad shape!

[lkngarden]

I was watering the garden at my parent's place and noticed the eggplant were just starting to come in, but they are being terrorized by something. Based on the vegetable itself it looks like an animal, but the leaves look like they are being eaten by insects. I really want to help her out because our family loves eggplant, and she doesn't use the internet! Thanks in advance.

[GardenJester]

your pic link is broken. But usually at this time of year, if something is eating your plants, it is most likely Japanese beatle.

[Duh_Vinci]

If foliage looks like it has hundreds of holes in them - indeed, flea beetles! After a short harvest of eggplants from 6 varieties in the garden - pulled them all out today. Same as every year, beetles come out and destroy them. No effective way of protecting unfortunately that I know of (except for a row covers)

Regards,
D

[DoubleDogFarm]

[garden5]

The Japanese beetles are hitting my neighbor's eggplants, too.

[lkngarden]

I was able to pick some that were spared fortunately. Here is the correct link for a picture of one of the eggplants that looks as though it has been eaten:

[GardenJester]

hmmm... you got bigger pest than beetles. you or your neighbor got dogs? That looks like a dog took a bite out it. The gouge mark looks like it's been left by something with cannite teeth.

[lkngarden]

hmmm... you got bigger pest than beetles. you or your neighbor got dogs? That looks like a dog took a bite out it. The gouge mark looks like it's been left by something with cannite teeth.

I figured the leaves and the eaten eggplant were separate issues. Hopefully the beetles will leave the plants alone now. We don't have a dog...there are some in the neighborhood but haven't really noticed one around the garden. Could this have been done by a possum?