A pest is eating my succulents

by Katrina
(Los Angeles, CA)

Hello,

I live in Los Angeles, CA and am growing several succulents outdoors. They've been growing about 3 years and have been doing great. This morning I woke up to find chunks out of several succulents. Perhaps a squirrel or birds?? Look too big to be mealyworms or aphids. Any help is appreciated. Thank you!!

Comments for A pest is eating my succulents

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Jul 06, 2022
 No aphids
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

Aphids just suck the life out of a plant, not take huge chunks out.

Slugs eat small round holes, so not that either.

My money is on a chipmunk or a squirrel. As it's on the tips, a squirrel will do this kind of damage. It looks so bad - the good news is, it won't kill the plant, as long as it stops now. The bad news is, it will always be scarred.

I'm going to say that this damage occurred on at least two occasions, which indicates that the pest is planning to come back for more.

I've recommended this before, to protect plants from cats (usually indoors) and that is the suggestion to put bird cages over the plants to prevent access.
Jul 07, 2022
 If It is a vegetarian...
by: Helen

If it is a vegetarian, maybe rubbing a little animal fat on the plants would deter the pest.

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