what pest is doing this damage ?

PatsyFagan

I first thought Vine Weevil, so, in the absence of nematodes, have drenched this plant, but then thought maybe slugs ...

However, just had a closer look and found a vine weevil trying to get out of the pot ... so was I right in the first place ? 

Dovefromabove

What makes you think it's just one pest ... I reckon that could be snails and vine weevils 😡

Pete.8

I'd say slugs and snails - I've given up trying to grow them

PatsyFagan

thanks both .,... hadn't thought it could be both  - this is the only pot suffering like this and it is in the sunniest part of my garden... at least I may have killed off the vine weevil, but nothing I can do about the damage now 

Pete.8

You could try slug pellets - they no longer contain metaldehyde, but ferric phosphate which breaks down to plant fertilizer

PatsyFagan

Thanks @Pete.8 ... I could have sworn I had some slug pellets in the shed, but they appear to have walked off 

Dovefromabove

It's a lovely hosta ... do you know it's name?

I grow some of my hostas in pots ... I get sticky copper tape to put around the pots and I try to make sure there are no 'bridges' from one plant to another to allow slugs and snails access from one plant to another without having to get past the copper tape, even if it means I have to space all the pots out n the evening and group them together again attractively in the morning 🐌

PatsyFagan

I have had this one for a few years now, so no idea of it's name and so far it had escaped damage of any sort. It is standing right in front of a couple of bee houses with lots of bees house-viewing   
 

Dovefromabove

It’s very handsome … it’s a bit like one of my favourites … June Fever

There’s been a few nibbles out of that too, while we’ve been away 🙄 

Ergates

Looks like slugs ( or snails) to me. I only have two Hostas, both in very tall pots, and so far, they have survived to their second year. I’m checking them at bedtime, so far removed only four slugs, and again when I wake for a trip to the loo in the middle of the night! A bit extreme, but I’ve never been able to grow Hostas before, so I’m prepared to put in a bit of effort as there are only two of them, and just outside the front door.

Slug damage

And now, looking better!

Fairygirl

I'd say slugs in that first pic. It's often the tiniest ones that do the most damage. 

The damage on my Ligularias are always from tiny little bandits. Very small snails too.