Something eating tops of plants, or deformed? With pics..

[StonerPoker]

The pictures are from 3 clones that were planted 3 weeks ago, and something seems to be eating the top leaves, there is no damage on the lower leaves.



They don't have the squiggly lines like leaf miners leave behind. I also can't find any caterpillars after looking over two days.
Could it be something else? or would it be best to keep looking for caterpillars?
Could leafs deform this way ?or is there other insects that could do this?
I know the plants have Thrips, but they are well under control with potassium soap spray every day, and they aren't damaging the plants.

 

[moses wellfleet]

It's not thrips, looks to me like it was eaten by some type of caterpillar when it was still part of the meristem and you only noticed it now when it grew... Hopefully the culprit is long gone!!

 

[StonerPoker]

Thanks for replying I am pretty sure that it is on new leafs, the plants only had 4 nodes when the cloned had rooted, there are 6 nodes now, and it is only effecting the tops.
For now i'll just keep looking for caterpillars. Unless it could be something else that I have never heard of.. Hopefully the potassium soap is making it more difficult for them..

 

[stoned-trout]

RA?? damage maybe....yeehaw

 

[StonerPoker]

RA?? damage maybe....yeehaw

I hope it's not Root Aphids, I didn't even know this was a symptom of Aphids. Luckily a plant hasn't been transferred to bigger pots yet, so I can give the roots a check. Do you think they would damage the tops of the plants and not the middle?

 

[Granger2]

Stoned,
RA damage usually starts with discoloration. Looks like caterpillars. For thrips eradication, use Spinosad. One drench and one spray should do it, but 2 will for sure. -granger

 

[StonerPoker]

Stoned,
RA damage usually starts with discoloration. Looks like caterpillars. For thrips eradication, use Spinosad. One drench and one spray should do it, but 2 will for sure. -granger

Thanks Granger, I can breathe again, lol.. Never found spinosad anywhere yet, I have looked. I've just learned to live with thrips, they don't do any damage if sprayed with potassium soap every 1 to 2 days.
Even when I get rid of them they come back somehow, and the room is well closed off. I came to the conclusion that they come in all the soil we buy here. I don't know a grower here without them, haha. I feel like the predator insect while spraying to keep the population down, it's all part of the game for me at this point

 

[Ratzilla]

I also going with a caterpillar.
Look real close once it took me two days to find the one eating on my plants.
And when I found it I wondered how I didn't see it earlier.
They have a way of blending in, for sure.
Ratz

 

[UrbanFarmeros]

Maybe a chupacabra make sure you check around every bush really elusive species.

 

[Rolling Stoner]

This is what u need for the Thrips. Also kills caterpillars if you have those, so bonus. Monterey Garden Insect Spray. Spinosad based product. OMRI listed. I use this on my outdoor crops every year. Just order it from Lowes.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_604617-1321-LG6150_0__?productId=50176283

 

[Farmer B]

So on two of my buds I got about 5 leaves that looks like your second pic. Mine happin in week 4 of flower. Nothing els happin and that was it. Very odd. But the first and 3rd pic look like it got eaten so just keep an eye out.
My experience with catapillers they eat the very tops stopping growth.

 

[StonerPoker]

RA?? damage maybe....yeehaw

I'm fucking gutted right now

It looks like you were correct Stoned.. I've been 3 weeks treating with bacillusthuringiensis for caterpillars, and the plants still have stunted growth and seem to be eaten even more.

I have also been treating for a fungus on the top of the soil. I checked many times for movement in the white patches with the micro, I saw no movement so decided it was fungus and treated by spooning it out and spraying with a cinnamon potassium treatment.

I took a plant out today and checked through the soil with a micro, and there it was the little fucker, a root aphid

I've let them spread everywhere now, i just wish i'd listened to you, and tested much further. It just didn't seem like damage they could do to the plant, being so small and in the roots..

My plan now is to soak some plants, bin some plants, maybe spray with chemicals. To be honest i'm just lost.. I have likely lost the best genetics that I have ever had

 

[Rolling Stoner]

Clone em now in rooters or rock wool so you don't lose the genetics and throw everything else out and start over.

That sucks man. We live and learn, just keep moving forward with the knowledge. I been at this 20 years and still get blindsided every now and then. As ST would say.....yeehaw