It looks horribly like a vine weevil. The adults eat notches into foliage but it's the larvae that do most of the damage; they eat their way through plant roots.

You may want to ask in the "clinic" forum or name that animal in the nature section.

Well, that's not good. Not sure yet of the vine weevil, but I did have another friend who mentioned 'weevil' so I think we are on to something.

Not sure what to do about these critters.

There is no question that it's a weevil....but as to which one, you might have to be the detective, unless you can provide us with a better (close up) image. Just google vine weevils to see some pictures for comparison.

You might also take some specimens into your local extension office for identification. You can put a couple in a plastic baggie for transport.

Greenhaven,

If it is just a planter box of annuals, you might just hand-pick all of them for "identification". However, that little weevil doesn't look capable of stripping anything.

I suspect there is another villain at work. Slugs and snails are known for stripping foliage, but they work at night. I suggest you examine your planter box at night with a good flashlight. Sluggo is a good safe slug bait, whose active ingredient is iron phosphate. If the slugs don't eat it, the plants can use the iron and phosphorous.

There are other possible villains, including earwigs and even pillbugs, if their numbers are sufficient.

ZM