I planted green bush beans that have sprouted and are about 3" high now. The leaves are being eaten by something, but I don't know what it is. Also, the leaves on my peppermint are being eaten by something. Will fire ants or termites do this? Is there a 'cure-all' that I can put on them to save them?

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Reecea

Fire ants and termites won't eat the plants. The first thing I'd do is douse it with DE. Is the pest eating it to the ground or just putting holes in the leaves? Do you see a lot of pill bugs (rolly-polly)? Anytime I get into a situation where the plant is about to be completely killed by a pest I use DE, otherwise I usually let the natural preditor do its job.

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Sandi
Texas Certified Nursery Professional
Texas Master Naturalist
Organic gardener
Tree-Hugger
Native Texan

Oh, the mint...does it look like small round bruises on the leaves? If so, that's the 4-line plant bug. They'll go away by June. They love hebs, especially mints. They suck the juice out of the leaves in little spots, all over the leaves. They have bright red underbellys and are about the size as a firefly. They're in Howard's Bug book.

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Sandi
Texas Certified Nursery Professional
Texas Master Naturalist
Organic gardener
Tree-Hugger
Native Texan

I've been getting help on pill bugs, on this thread http://www.dirtdoctor.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=14048#14048.

Good luck!

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...Heather

You might try going out at night with a flashlight and inspecting the plants closely then. Some bugs only come out at night to eat. I've bushwhacked many cutworms that way.

good luck,
stephenh