Holes in tulips.
United Kingdom 
Help! My tulips have got holes in! The flowers I mean, the blooms themselves. It looks like something has been nibbling at them. No sign of any bits munched on the leaves or stems. These are flower nibbles only. I haven't found any caterpillar yet, or any slugs. So I don't know what is doing it. Would anybody have any idea what the likely culprit is? My tulip display in my tiny garden this year is so precious to me. I don't want to forfeit any of it to a little blighter.
With thanks and best wishes, JONATHAN H.
9 Apr, 2009
Answers
It reminds me on my lilies; they had got the same holes. In case of the lilies there are special bugs, which eat them. They specially like lillies - maybe tulips are much alike, they are the same family. The bugs were about 1 cm big and scarled RED. If You find them, destroy them, they are a hungry species and I don´t know any help from them.
9 Apr, 2009
Earwigs will also eat small holes in flowers.
9 Apr, 2009
my tulip pinocchio has slug damage. check my photo and see if it matches. The damage was done when the flower was in tight bud.
9 Apr, 2009
Nelke - I'm in the same town as Jonathan and we do have lily beetle. But I've only known it go for lilies and fritillaries, not tulips
9 Apr, 2009
Maranddar, sparrows eat yellow crocuses for their plummage. The yellow tanins improve the plummage and it helps the sparrows attract partners.....
10 Apr, 2009
I found the answer eventually. I went out there in the early hours with a torch and I found them. Caterpillars! Big juicey blighters. Squish! Splat! Then went back to bed. Yawn!
15 May, 2009
Depending on the colour of the tuplis, it may be sparrows...they can be a bit funny about colourful blooms in the garden at this time of year...mine pulled all my crocus to shreds.. :-(
9 Apr, 2009