Troubleshooting worksheet
Holes in leaves
Chewed edges, round holes, tunnels, or skeletonized foliage appear.
Look before acting
A visual match narrows questions. It does not prove a diagnosis.
Compare the location, pattern, affected plant parts, recent weather, watering, and changes in care before choosing a response.
Possible causes
Keep the list open at first.
01Caterpillars
02Beetles
03Slugs or snails
04Leaf miners
05Mechanical damage
Questions to answer
Look at the whole plant and root zone.
- Are holes appearing overnight?
- Is there frass, slime, webbing, or a visible insect?
- Are new leaves or old leaves targeted?
- How much healthy leaf area remains?
Low-risk actions
Change one thing at a time.
- Inspect both sides of leaves at different times of day.
- Hand-remove identified pests when practical.
- Use barriers or row covers before damage begins.
- Choose any control only after identifying the pest.
Working checklist