FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Something has been eating my sarracenia pitchers for over a year now. It always targets new pitchers as they are inflating and chews a bunch of holes in them. Last year, when it started, I thought it was slugs as I had seen their trails and there were a lot of places for them to hide. This spring I repotted all of my plants and I figured that would solve this issue. Yesterday I found these holes in my purpurea, the same as I had seen previously. It's only this plant for now, but I know it will spread to others soon. Does anyone have any ideas on what might be causing this or what I can do to prevent more damage?

It could be earwigs or some other type of chewing insect. I've seen lots of holes in flytrap leaves when they catch earwigs here in southern Oregon, which we have a lot of. The flytraps snap shut on them and then the little buggers will chew their way out the side of the trap before the flytrap can start the digestion process!! Annoying

I don't have any suggestions on how to prevent that, sorry.

I am fairly sure those a slugs/snails. The chew marks are most likely from the outside as they would probably slide in if they were going to eat from the inside.
I would walk outside a couple hours after dark and check to see if some slippery bugger was sliding across your plant. I don't know if slugs/snails are prolific in your area. If they aren't, then manually remove the slug and end it with a quick knife slice. Try not to touch a garden slug, though. It is not a very fun experience .

I had issues with wasps chowing down on some of my flytraps (last year), even if they weren't being caught in the traps.

For slugs set a shallow saucer of beer near the plants. Slugs love beer and will crawl in and drown.

Drunk I tell you.

I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

Slugs tho

Panman wrote:For slugs set a shallow saucer of beer near the plants. Slugs love beer and will crawl in and drown.

I'll have to try that

ChefDean wrote:I think we're overlooking the possibility of a supernatural culprit. The holes look very round, and mostly look to be in pairs.
Chupacabra has gone vegetarian!

Always a possibility

It's always satisfying to ambush slugs at night (they usually don't feed during the day) with a flashlight and a little stick. I push them right into the pitchers (just make sure the pitchers are full with water). That way, the sarrs get their revenge!

Darkroom Denizen wrote:

Panman wrote:For slugs set a shallow saucer of beer near the plants. Slugs love beer and will crawl in and drown.

I'll have to try that

Drowning in beer is less fun than it sounds. Stick to drinking it!

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