What is eating my primulas?

It isn't slugs or snails, so wonder what it could be. Any idea?

Thank you

Neil C

 

Hi Neil,any chance of a photo or two as it could be a number of things including Vine Weevil and their grubs.If you can show us what the plants look like then we might be able to make some suggestions,thanks

 

Many thanks both. I can send a pic, but it's fairly straightforward. it's the (limegreen/yellow) flowers rather more than the leaves that have been decimated. I say it's not slugs or snails; I don't think it is, there's no sign of them. Funnily enough, I have some other primulas in flower, different colours, and they haven't been touched.

 

I can tell you now..........it's SPARROWS!! I have the same problem. They rip the flowers to shreds, but leave the leaves. They only do certain colours and my mum in laws primulas 2 doors away are UNTOUCHED!! As are the ones in my back garden. they only touch the ones in the front garden.

I have seen the sparrows doing it. the male house sparrows (or possibly tree sparrows, theyre quite similar).

I wonder if they are after bugs on the flowers? But they don't destroy anything else like this.

 

Oh, yes, that makes sense, although I haven't seen them doing it. We do get a lot of birds, including sparrows, in the garden. Not much to do about that then! Thanks Randy.

 

ur welcome

my MIL says she's seen them go for crocuses too

 

For some reason Sparrows are attracted to some yellow flowers. Crocus, polyanthus and Primulas are often targeted but not Daffs.

 

i dont think sparrows can jump up tot he daffs :lollol:

 

I have just seen a pair of Sparrows eating yellow primula leaves in my front garden, strange activity. I suppose only a sparrow knows why.

 

This has answered the exact same query I have. We're lucky enough to have a colony of sparrows in our garden and the primulas are on a table which is quite close to the 'bird cafe', the only difference being that the primulas in question are white with a yellow centre. May be our sparrows like fried eggs?