Hole punch pest

[Plot70]

I have had several fruits on courgette plants that have perfectly round holes punched in them.
There is no sign of slugs on them and anyway they would make random holes.
What would make holes that look like they were made with a tool?
The holes are about 15mm across.

[Nicos]

No idea but I had to chuckle…my first thought was that it looked like an alien needing a darned good floss

[Bren In Pots]

Plot just wondering has anyone else got the same problem on your allotment ?

[Nicos]

I’m guessing it’s snail/ slug damage which has healed as the courgette has grown? Never seen anything like that before though.

[Plot70]

Plot just wondering has anyone else got the same problem on your allotment ?

It is actually one plant in a bed with three others all producing fruits without the hole punched in them.
I will start watching the fruits from before the flowers open to see if I can find out when it is happening.
I have ruled out slugs as they make random holes.
I have seen marks from hail stones and scrapes from leaf stems this year and none of those have made these neat holes.

[mrsbusy]

Some of my aubergines (in a cold greenhouse) have very similar holes in them. I assumed slug damage - but after sampling, the slug moved on to more tasty food!

[Plot70]

I have had five off my plants without any holes punched in them.