Hi Ann and thanks for your question about something eating your pansy flowers. The most likely culprit at this time of year is slugs. If you are seeing the outsides chewed, rather than internal holes and especially if you can find slime trails on the undersides of the plants, it is slugs.

I'll attach a website with information and controls but basically you can pick them off at night when they are most active (drop them into a cup of soapy water), you can remove hiding places like rocks and boards where they go during the day and you can use beer to attract and drown them (a happy death I assume)!

There are slug baits available, which I admit I do use in my large garden, but make sure they don't contain metaldehyde which also kills earthworms and other animals that might ingest them. There are a few other ideas in the following website as well as identification pictures and benefits slugs do provide.
https://solvepestproblems.oregonstate.edu/plant-problems/slugs-snails

Remember, it is not a problem we can completely solve, just one we want to get under control.
Good luck,

Thank you! I appreciate this explanation!

On Mon, Nov 18, 2024 at 11:03 AM, Ask Extension

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