Cole crops being destroyed by what?

[obsessed]

So all my cole crops are being eaten. The cauliflower the broccoli. Something is taken and eaten all the leaves to shreds. The only bug I have seen in the garden are these orange reddish ant looking things but they are on my tomatoes. Anybody got a clue?

 

[Ridgerunner]

This site might give you a starting point in looking for the culprit. My worse insect problems on cole crops are various caterpillars, but they are easy to find. Just look under the leaves and you can see the droppings. If you have them mulched and the mulch is damp, suspect slugs. Others may have better ideas.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/897789/determining_plant_damage_caused_by.html?cat=32

Good luck!

Editted to ad:

You are on the spot and can see what is going on better than I can. These sites might help you identify better what is going on. With the afternoon thunderstorms you are probably getting and you not seeing anything on them, I'm still guessing slugs. Grasshoppers are another pest that come to mind, but I think you would see them and their droppings.

Caterpillars on cole crops
http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/e253caterpillarpests-cole.html

Slugs in home gardens
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG7561.html

 

[wifezilla]

Top suspects include slugs, earwigs and rolly pollies. That's what usually gets mine

 

[COgirl]

Hey wifezilla, if you have pretty little white moths in your yard flitting around then you have cabbage moths whose eggs turn into cabbage loopers. Do you have alot of grasshoppers this year? I do even with the chickens!! I have been using BT and it is helping SO MUCH with any more caterpillar type damage, if you want to try some let me know, I have more than enough for you to give it a try and see if it helps. Flea beetles haven't been an issue here at all but you are a little lower than us so maybe it is them they LOVE cole crops. Let me know if you want some BT.
:rainbow-sun