What is eating my Lilli pads?

[texmaster]

We Are a bit worried

 

[TheFishGuy]

Of course, we would like to know more about your system.

my first thoughts are the fish - if you have koi they are ravenous Lilly eaters

Then possibly and insect like aphids?

and also possibly something like racoons or other predators

to really get a good response it would help if you could tell us:

fish - what kinds if any?
Predators - what kinds of predators do you have?
Plants- how long have you had them and how long has this been going on?
And pond - how long has it been setup, what types of filtration and how do you care for it?

 

[addy1]

My older lily leaves always look like that, nibbled on. I find snails on the underside and who knows what else enjoys the food source. The new leaves are never touched. Well unless one of the deer decides it is time to snack.

 

[WaterGardener]

My goldfish eat mine. They look just like those in the picture only there are a lot more of them that look that way.

 

[mrsclem]

I've been getting fuzzy white caterpillars eating mine, look just like that.

 

[BKHpondcritters]

My older lily pads also look like that. They get really ratty. As long as the new pads aren't being damaged I don't worry about it.
@mrsclem - Interesting! my fuzzy white caterpillars seem to favor my water hyacinth. They're all over them! (fortunately with water hyacinth there's always enough to share. lol)

 

[Lisak1]

Just pull out the bad ones. They age out and get all kinds of ratty and tattered.

 

[Mmathis]

I am finding little caterpillars (larva of a moth called the — I think — China Mark Moth) on my leaves. I pluck them off and feed to the fish! These are the ones that roll the lily pads up and pupate in leaf “burritos.”

Also, snails like to nibble on them. This time of year, I am seeing more damage than I would see during the summer — my theory is that the plants are starting to shut down for the winter, and maybe their resistance is weaker.