Most of the damage is likely caterpillars. Some may be slugs (if those critters are in your area.) The hosta may be root weevil.

That said, most of the pictures show old damage -- you can tell it's old because the cut edges are dried -- look for the narrow gray or brownish line at the edge.

The tidy missing half circles in the redbud leaf are due to the leafcutter bee. This is a temporary thing, perhaps 4 to 6 weeks. And because the damage is cosmetic, and the bee is a pollinator, no sprays should be used.

Have you seen a large population of earwigs and/or pillbugs in your garden this year?

rhizo,

No earwigs and pill bugs only under stones.

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Jean,

Good to know about the leafcutter bees.
I see NO caterpillars.
I believe I've seen some root weevils.

I have a lot of damage and like I said I mostly see tiny flies. Neem oil is not working as well as hoped.

Thanks,

Patsi

Leaf damage like that with no insect larva on the leaf is slug damage. If that is not very extensive, if that damage is not going to harm the plant, the best course of action is to do nothing. Contrary to what the manufacturers of those poisons tell you most all plants can handle, and have been handling, some insect damage with no problem for eons and spraying "stuff" around to eliminate a perceived problem will kill off the beneficial insects that could very well control this pest.

Patsi,

Little flies seldom damage plants. The main exception are certain leafminers, which few people ever see. But they remove lare expanses of leaf tissue.

oops. Change that final sentence in the previous post to But they don't remove large expanses of leaf tissue.

Like I said I don't have slugs.
Hard to miss them.

I gave up and sprayed with systemic. THEN I saw tiny white and some blackish spots half the size of salt which were dead bugs under my leaves BUT would have never known they were any kind of bug untill I used a jewelers eye to see them.
So it seems I have many kinds of damageing bugs.
I just have to be careful using the systemic.

i have 1500 hosta... that is slug damage ... YOU HAVE SLUGS ... i don't know why you are ruling them out ....

try the beer lure ... little 4 inch pie plate with some beer .. and leave it near or under the hosta for a few days.. and see if you can trap some .. once you get past denial ... then you can try the hosta forum for many NON-chemical solutions to your slug infestation ....

i also agree on the cutter bees.. half moon edges ....

and it looks like you had some early season cutworms ... which are long gone now ....

tiny insects .... which you cant see cant eat holes in plants IMHO ....

some of the damage may also be simple insult to the leaves which many weeks later browns and dies.. wind storm, hail storms, walking on them.. or thru them ... animals.. etc ....

good luck

ken

Sorry, but did I say that picture is from my garden ?
It's NOT.
I was making a point that I know what slugs look like and I don't see them. But what the heck I'll try slug killer again.

Thanks,

Patsi