What's eating my petunia axillaris?

Petunia axillaris is the white-flowered wild petunia species, grown as an annual in gardens. Tobacco budworm is the chief threat across the US, destroying buds before they open. Aphids and whitefly affect soft stems and foliage. Slugs and snails attack young plants, and deer occasionally browse this species in rural gardens.

Larvae hollow out developing flower buds, leaving entry holes and dark frass; flowering is severely reduced Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray at dusk; use spinosad insecticide for persistent pressure; hand-pick caterpillars in the evening

Green or black colonies on shoot tips cause distorted growth, sticky honeydew, and sooty mould Remove with strong water spray; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; attract predatory insects with companion planting

Young transplants are eaten at soil level overnight; older plants show ragged holes in leaves Scatter iron phosphate pellets; water in the morning; use copper tape on raised containers

Tiny white insects under leaves cause yellowing and deposit sticky honeydew that promotes sooty mould Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to leaf undersides; use yellow sticky traps; keep plants well-spaced for air flow