Strange bug eating all my plants!

[Lisak1]

Borers can get into irises that are in the water, much to my surprise. They bore down through the leaves into the rhizome. I saw the telltale sign of iris borers last year - they dying tips - and though "nah... can't be". Tugged at a few leaves and they came right off in my hand - another sign. Reached into the tubers... mush and stink. Pulled out a chunk of rotted root and there they were - big and juicy and disgusting.

It may be something else eating your plants, but if its mainly irises I would suspect the borers.

 

[Tuckers]

View attachment 131157@Tuckers
I think that bug may be a Scud: http://lifeinfreshwater.net/scuds-gammaridae/ or a Water Sow Bug: http://lifeinfreshwater.net/aquatic-sow-bugs-asellidae/

Hi dude just wanted to say I sent an email to jan the gentleman that does all the research on the website you sent the links to and he replied to me today.
you was correct they are indeed a Water lice (Asellidae) Which is basically a water sow bug! He said that they will eat absolutely anything they come in contact with including the entirety of pond plants.
so because there is no dead plant matter on the bottom they are consuming the fresh plant instead.

no idea how I will now remove them without getting rid of the plants and having a clean down and perhaps replacing them with some new cleaned ones.
Thanks for the help tho dude I’ve been scratching my head for months trying to find the name of the culprits.

 

[j.w]

Good deal and I am a dudette,

 

[BKHpondcritters]

Borers can get into irises that are in the water, much to my surprise. They bore down through the leaves into the rhizome. I saw the telltale sign of iris borers last year - they dying tips - and though "nah... can't be". Tugged at a few leaves and they came right off in my hand - another sign. Reached into the tubers... mush and stink. Pulled out a chunk of rotted root and there they were - big and juicy and disgusting.

It may be something else eating your plants, but if its mainly irises I would suspect the borers.

Eww - Just, EWW! I dealt with iris borers infesting my tall bearded iris back in IL. I ended up pretty much removing/eliminating any & all of the bearded iris in my garden. They never bothered my Siberian ones. Here (in NC) I only have yellow flag & numerous other aquatic iris... NO borers. Please, please, don't let the borers find me & my pond plants. They are beyond "icky".

 

[Lisak1]

@BKHpondcritters - I agree! I was shocked that they got into my yellow flag growing in the pond. I guess the crown is high enough that they felt they wouldn't drown! They are disgusting!

 

[Tuckers]

Good deal and I am a dudette,

My apologies dudette haha

thanks to everyone tho for trying to help it’s much appreciated!