What is eating my water lilies?

[Mgessert]

Pesticides must always be used according to label instructions. This is to keep the environment safe and prevent unintended consequences.

Aquatic Pests: China Mark Moth and Waterlily Leafcutter | University of Maryland Extension

Controlling Two Aquatic Plant Pests: China Mark Moth, Nymphuliella daeckealis (Haimbach) and the Waterlily Leafcutter, Synclita obliteralis (Walker)

extension.umd.edu

 

[Rugar458]

I have my lilies in tubs. When I first saw the signs of destruction, I thought it was due to those little pond snails.

Well, today I decided to take a better look....
A couple of examples of what the leaves look like.
View attachment 74006

Then I started noticing "slices" of leaf material floating in the water and stuck to the leaves. On closer examination, I noticed that these "slices" of leaf were actually little leaf-burritos.
View attachment 74007

So I opened one up...
View attachment 74008

Dust them with diamataous earth, safe and very effective.

 

[Lisak1]

I use diatomaceous earth in my garden all the time, but in the water it won't be effective - it needs to stay dry. Plus many little critters that attack water lily leaves come from the underside.