Those tricky slugs come out at night and hide by day.

Read the link below. It seems to be flea beetles, which create those initially white holes. Not all damage is by slugs, nematodes, earwigs, cutworms! Read the post by botanybabe about 2/3's down that 2008 post. A systemic isecticide might protect it.

Here is a link that might be useful: holes by flea beetles

the pattern of the holes.. seems to indicate to me.. that the injury occurred while the leaf was still rolled up ...

the brown tissue also indicates it happened a while back ...

did they come with these marks ... if so ... then the bug may be long gone ...

ken

My vote is the flea beetles because the holes are so tiny. Slugs would eat holes all the way thru...not leave brown spots. And cutworms don't make round holes...they chew strips out.

Thank you all for the info! I will read the post indicated, and go out tonight w/ a flashlight to see if i can catch any slugs in the act! The leaves where all blemish free as they unfurled, no marks at all. In the picture, the edges of the holes have a brownish ting, but on the actual plant the edges are still a little white-ish, not quite brown yet.

Thanks,
Katie

here is what i would do.. after i checked for slugs at night...

IGNORE IT ....

the white or brown tissue indicates that the surface has dessicated ... dried.. and lost its integrity ... and that happened at least a week ago .. you never said how long you have had it ...

i would then wait until new fresh leaves start forming from the center of the CROWN ... [host are not a tuber plant] ...

if the new leaves remain unblemished.. then the bug is long gone ...

if those develop blemishes.. then you have an ongoing problem ...

in your zone.. you are going to be hard pressed to grow a perfect hosta.... though you should learn all you can.. you should not become overly concerned about it all ...

one trick.. is simply to view it from a little further distance.. so you dont see the damage.. lol ...

beetles are insects.. so a light dusting of sevin or whatever the current treatment is will rid you of those ..

slugs are NOT insects... and will not be affected by an insecticide ... you will need a mulloscide ... or simply vinegar and water.. there is a FAQ on slugs ...

relax.. its a hosta.. you know.. they will grow on the driveway with benign neglect .. just about free of soil ... so dont try to worry too much about a few holes ...

good luck ...

ken

LMAO! Thanks Ken, I'll dust with sevin.... since i already have some in the garage. As for the slugs i'll read up on them today & look for them tonight.

Katie