Something is eating the bindweed!

[mrsbusy]

I have the usual bindweed problem and this year I have been pulling it up enough for it not to be a huge problem.
To my amazement the leaves are being eaten by something which I think is leaf beetle - the leaves are peppered with small holes. The plants that the bindweed is growing up are not damaged at all.
I'm not complaining but surprised.
Anyone else finding the same?

[ameno]

It's probably plume moth caterpillars.
https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/emmel...dactyla/adult/

The adults are beige, T-shaped moths, and are very common. The larvae feed on bindweed, and are about 1cm or so long, pale green or beige, and bristly.
Sadly, they never come in large enough numbers to do the bindweed any serious harm.

I used to have problems with them when I grew sweet potatoes undercover. Sweet potatoes are in the same family as bindweed, and the caterpillars will eat the leaves of that, too. Although there weren't all that many caterpillars, they would still cause fairly major damage as they used to like chewing through the leaf stalks, thus killing the whole leaf in one go.

[mrsbusy]

Thanks for the link Ameno - I will look out for these moths/caterpillars I have not noticed either.
gosh I'd never think of bindweed / sweet potato combo! I use sweet potatoes alot as part of the dogs diet so wont forget!
The bindweed is defo weaker this year, and although the hot weather is helping it is mainly growing on my french beans which are getting the most share of the water. None on the spinach.

[ameno]

The caterpillars are surprisingly hard to spot. They tend to feed at night, and during the day will cling to the underside of leaf stalks or the main stems, lying parallel with the stem so as not to be seen.