SusieThompson writes
We're starting to eat the first of our rhubarb and very good it is.
But we suddenly have a problem. I went out this morning to find that a
lot of the larger younger leaves have been stripped right down to the
main veins, leaving just a ragged skeleton. No holes in the leaves,
just the leaves chewed right back. I I didn't think anything ate
rhubarb leaves, given that they're known to be poisonous. Has anybody
any idea who or what the culprits might be?

Slugs eat rhubarb, particularly the growing points and the buds.

The 'poisonous' bit is a red herring. Nicotine is used as an
insecticide, but whitefly feast on Nicotiana leaves with no apparent ill
effects.
--
Kay

"K" wrote in message
...
SusieThompson writes
We're starting to eat the first of our rhubarb and very good it is. But we
suddenly have a problem. I went out this morning to find that a lot of
the larger younger leaves have been stripped right down to the main veins,
leaving just a ragged skeleton. No holes in the leaves, just the leaves
chewed right back. I I didn't think anything ate rhubarb leaves, given
that they're known to be poisonous. Has anybody any idea who or what the
culprits might be?

Slugs eat rhubarb, particularly the growing points and the buds.

The 'poisonous' bit is a red herring. Nicotine is used as an insecticide,
but whitefly feast on Nicotiana leaves with no apparent ill effects.

Not sure the 'poisonous' bit should be ignored, I understand it is not good
for humans to eat it, I seem to remember there was trouble during the war
when there was a shortage of green vegetables.

Alan

--
Kay

Alan Holmes writes

"K" wrote in message
...
SusieThompson writes
We're starting to eat the first of our rhubarb and very good it is. But we
suddenly have a problem. I went out this morning to find that a lot of
the larger younger leaves have been stripped right down to the main veins,
leaving just a ragged skeleton. No holes in the leaves, just the leaves
chewed right back. I I didn't think anything ate rhubarb leaves, given
that they're known to be poisonous. Has anybody any idea who or what the
culprits might be?

Slugs eat rhubarb, particularly the growing points and the buds.

The 'poisonous' bit is a red herring. Nicotine is used as an insecticide,
but whitefly feast on Nicotiana leaves with no apparent ill effects.

Not sure the 'poisonous' bit should be ignored, I understand it is not good
for humans to eat it, I seem to remember there was trouble during the war
when there was a shortage of green vegetables.

It's not good for humans, but it is a red herring when you're looking at
whetehr or not it will be devoured by slugs or other animals.
--
Kay