Ricinus Communis Carmencita

Hi All

I'm hoping someone can help and advise what's attacking/eating my Caster Oil Plant ...?

Firstly I'm really pleased with these guys, as I grew them all from seed and I'm a beginner gardener. I planted 10 seeds as I didn't know what success I would have ... I ended up with 10 plants!! I have 3 in the garden: 1 in a pot (pictures) & 2 planted out.

The Plant



All 3 are suffering from 1 degree or another. All at different places in the garden. Whatever this is, only eats/goes for the green leaves - the dark red/purple leaves are untouched.

A Leaf Close Up



Please excuse Maurice the Mole, he likes to get in on photos where he can!! By the way, he claims innocence and that he has not seen anything!!

Underside of Leaf



Under the leaves look very 'clean' and don't appear to have anything lurking or any evidence of what/who it can be ...

Being a beginner, whenever I suspect a problem with a plant I do some research on the internet and 9 times out of 10 find the answer. However, whenever I type in 'Castor Oil Plant pests' or 'Ricinus pests' etc. I end up with articles informing on how poisonous it is! There appears to be little information on this ...

Any help would be appreciated. And I'm happy to add/answer any questions etc that I can

Cheers

Chris

 

Mine has also been attacked but I have some lilies in the same pot and found the red lily beetle on them so they must also like the castor oil plant too.

 

there is a catarpillar somewhere ....but really hard to find .

 

Thanks, although the photo is recent its been like this for a month and not got any worse. The little blighter might have had his fill and moved on however, I will give them a more regular and closer inspections!

 

This caterpillar has been attacking my friends fuchsias - he looks quite an evil looking thing. It's a Elephant Hawk Moth.

 

Good grief!!! I think I might have screamed on run from that one!!! Imagine, 6' 2'' 32 year old bloke screaming and running into the house!!! Lol

Although I'm getting better with creepy crawlies being out in the garden more, I'm still a glove wearer when looking under leaves and putting my hand where I can't see ... I'll get there ... Baby steps

 

If its only on the older leaves I'd not bother too much.
As you say, the pest has moved on now.

 

Dead presumably ... given how poisonous Ricinus are! Seems like a suicidal plant to