I have a few canna lily plants. They are developing holes in the leaves. What type of bug would do this? How do I find the bug, and how do I remove them?
By ron obyrne from San Diego, CA
I don't know if you have them in San Diego, but here in Wisconsin Japanese Beetles love to eat canna leaves. They're metallic green/gold and easy to spot. They're very difficult to control. You can go out with soapy water and flick them into the bowl. I just live with them, but by the end of the summer some of the leaves look like lace!
If you don't think it's Japanese beetles, you might call your local extension office and ask for help identifying the pest.
Are there round holes in the canna leaves and are the new leaves "sewn together" with what looks like a zig-zag stitch? If so, you have a moth laying eggs in the center cone of the new leaves and sewing them together with silk to provide a save haven for the green caterpillar that hatches and eats and eats and eats. You can cut off the stitched together leaves and make sure you burn them or the little larvae will continue to eat, molt and fly away to eat your and everyone else's cannas.
