Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Annuals and Perennials > Pansy > Stems are cut
Pansy > Plant > Stems are cut
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Rabbit
- All or large sections of leaves are cut off and missing, leaving only a stem or petiole
- Plants are cut off with a clean-cut angle (45°), not ragged
- Animal foot prints or droppings may be seen near plant
- Damage often happens suddenly, often overnight
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Deer
- All or large sections of leaves are cut off and missing, leaving only a stem or petiole
- Plants are not cut off clean, but ragged
- Animal foot prints or droppings may be seen near plant
- Damage often happens suddenly, often overnight
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Cutworms
- Active throughout summer
- Stems of seedlings are severed at or near the soil line
- Caterpillars are 1 to 2 inches long and vary in color: brown or tan to pink, green or gray and black; color can be uniform, spotted, or striped
- Curls into a tight “C” when disturbed
- Most feed at night and hide in the soil during the day
- More information on cutworms
