I think it's probably the larvae of a small winter moth. Difficult to spot as the eggs are laid when we're not out inspecting and they're minute, and the damage occurs very quickly once the caterpillars hatch. Cut off the affected foliage of the ceanothus, new stuff will come quickly through. The others will just have to grin and bear it. hPlants won't be affected much

Whatever it is, it munches one of my geraniums every year. The critters are grey disgusting looking grey wormy things. I think they've gone but they always come back each year.