what is eating my Black Knight Butterfly Bush?

[boops]

[Bob Scott]

Looks like some sort of caterpillar damage. I've also got Black Knight but have not seen any damage.

[boops]

Happens to me every year with this b'fly bush, but this year is the worst.

[boops]

I'm thinking of pulling it and transplanting in the back of my yard, cause whatever is eating it is also attacking my Baby Joe Pye Weed plants which are only 1 year old and they are not giving them a chance. I don't know what to put on them to stop the attacks. I don't see any caterpillars on the foliage-ever.

[Bob Scott]

Japanese beetles are starting to hit hard here. So far it's just my black sweet potato vines in pots.

[boops]

Would I see the beetles during the day? I sprayed the tree with Spinosad and its still getting eaten although not as bad as before.

[Bob Scott]

You would definitely see them but your damage doesn't look like it's from them. they will skeletonize the leaves and not just put holes in them.
Small (1/2 inch) metallic green beetles.

[boops]

truthfully I think its ants. I noticed a lot of them this season in the soil. Going to spray for Ants and see what happens. otherwise I am moving the whole plant into the back of my yard. Funny thing is that it is flowering now. they don't eat the flowers just the leaves. This is totally aggravating me. ggggggrrrrr