Dahlia under attack!!!

Hi all, my dahlia should be in full bloom now and up till the last week or so it has been. But now, it seems the ends of the flower petals are all being eaten, and the leaves too have big chunks out of them. I have uploaded a pic to show the flower damage and hopefully you will have some suggestions?
thanks.

 

Earwigs probably. Some of mine suffered the same.

You can use an upturned paper / plastic cup stuffed with straw or shredded paper, propped on a stick / cane as a trap. Set it out in the evening and collect the beasties the following morning.

Not a cure, but will help keep the earwigs down and the Dahlias will quickly recover with new foliage and flower buds.

 

That's helpful and I'll try that tonight. Fingers crosses, because it is a lovely dahlia. I'll feedback tomorrow.
Gazania

 

Well I had a look in the pot first thing this morning and ... zilch! Not a thing!

But there was these black things that I can only think maybe caterpillar poo? What do you think?

If it is what do I do next?

 

Can't say I am too familiar with caterpillar poo, but if you see no caterpillars on the plants then I don't think its that. Do Lillie beetles also like Dahlias I wonder, as looks like the grubs as they cover themselves in their droppings.

 

Thanks again Steve. Whatever it is, it is everywhere! There is a camellia in a pot close by and that has these black drops on it but no damage. The dahlia is almost destroyed. There is this black stuff in other parts of the garden too with some damage.
The lilies though are untouched!?
I need to sort this before it eats everything.
Gazania

 

Hi Gazania.

I think it is indeed Caterpillar poop. It could well be that they are being attacked by both Caterpillars and Earwigs. As I understand it, the best way to deal with Caterpillars is to go out at night, and pick them off by hand, not a task I would relish. As for the Earwigs, as far as I know, the method already mentioned is pretty much all you can do. Maybe try a few traps? I also wouldn't be surprised if the odd Slug or two was having a nibble. For these I use Slug pellets, not everyone's cup of tea though.

Cheers...Freddy

 

Well, caterpillar poo it is! I went out with the torch tonight and though not too many caterpillars, they were there munching what is left of my dahlia! It is 10pm now, so maybe later there might be even more?
Gazania

 

just curious but what species of caterpillar feeds on Dahlia's does anybody know?

 

I have a lot of cabbage white caterpillars and earwigs munching my dahlias. They like my red salvias too.

 

Earwigs have been a pain for my potted Dahlias, but Cabbage Whites just have a feed and then off, no caterpillars at all. Must be the Gnomes!

 

i didn't think cabbage white caterpillars fed on Dalia's, do they? i haven't seen a single one on any of ours but there's been loads on the nasturtiums!