What’s eating my broad bean flowers?

Susan67

My broad beans were doing really well and in full flower. Then overnight all the flowers disappeared from one double row. No sign of any on the ground. Just leaves and stalks left. So no beans to come from these plants. Has anyone else had this problem?  Any ideas as to what is eating the flowers? I have pigeons but wouldnt expect them to be so neat about it. Have netted the remaining plants in the hope the flowers will be protected. Help!

lovegardening77

Black fly? Mine are covered  ☹️

Susan67

No blackflyand I doubt they could eat all the flowers and then vanish! Have covered remaining row in case its pigeons. 

Dovefromabove

Could they have been too dry  to have set pods?  Beans are quite thirsty plants.  Or was this row more exposed to heavy rain/wind in the stormy spell we've just experienced?
The beans should continue growing upwards and forming more flowers ... mine go on for ages and ages.  

By the way ... although broad beans can self-pollinate you will get a much better crop if the bees can get out them, so don't cover them ......... we have lots of pigeons here and they've never shown any interest in our beans.

Susan67

The bees can access through wire under the net and seem to be doing so quite happily. Think I must have a creature which has developed a taste for the flowers. Same thing happened last year. Complete disappearance of flowers overnight with none on the soil below and no pods. Have had lots of downpours so don't think water is an issue.