Pest identification
What's eating my petunia 'supertunia vista bubblegum'?
Tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens)
Signs: Caterpillars consume flower buds from the inside, leaving small entry holes and frass; plants appear to stop flowering
Control: Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) early in the evening; use spinosad spray for heavier pressure; hand-pick caterpillars at night
Aphids
Signs: Soft clusters on growing tips and flower stems cause leaf curl, stunted growth, and honeydew
Control: Blast off with water; spray insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; attract or release ladybird beetles
Whitefly
Signs: Yellowing leaves, sticky honeydew residue, and clouds of tiny white insects when plant is disturbed
Control: Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to leaf undersides; use yellow sticky traps; avoid overcrowding plants
Keep petunia 'supertunia vista bubblegum' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Petunia 'Supertunia Vista Bubblegum' pests — FAQ
What is eating my petunia 'supertunia vista bubblegum'?
Petunia 'Supertunia Vista Bubblegum' is a vigorous spreading annual grown in containers and beds. Tobacco budworm is the primary US threat, destroying buds before they open. Aphids and whitefly are common secondary pests. In cool, wet weather, slugs and snails can damage young plants at ground level.
How do I get rid of tobacco budworm (heliothis virescens) on petunia 'supertunia vista bubblegum'?
Caterpillars consume flower buds from the inside, leaving small entry holes and frass; plants appear to stop flowering Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) early in the evening; use spinosad spray for heavier pressure; hand-pick caterpillars at night
How do I get rid of aphids on petunia 'supertunia vista bubblegum'?
Soft clusters on growing tips and flower stems cause leaf curl, stunted growth, and honeydew Blast off with water; spray insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; attract or release ladybird beetles
How do I get rid of whitefly on petunia 'supertunia vista bubblegum'?
Yellowing leaves, sticky honeydew residue, and clouds of tiny white insects when plant is disturbed Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to leaf undersides; use yellow sticky traps; avoid overcrowding plants