Garden pests are a given, especially when
the farmer pursues to grow by organic methods.

Most of the time covering a crop with row fabric solves any pest issues.

The case with Swiss chard is that it will grow well all year, but it is best not to have it under fabric in order to not add additional heat in the summer.

The last few years I have noticed that the Swiss chard leaves are being chewed by a pest. Diligently I would check the underside of the leaves for caterpillars, and dig around the base of the plants looking for ground caterpillars. I would often find a few, but never finding enough for the damage being done to the leaves.

This week I was watching the American Gold Finches feast on the heads of the sunflowers loaded with seeds. I watched them fly onto the Swiss chard. I thought good, maybe they are getting whatever pest it is that ruins many of the leaves.

It only took a moment of watching to realize that they are my mystery pest. I guess they are just balancing out their diet with a little snack of Swiss chard.

Mystery Solved.