What's eating my petunia 'wave purple'?

Petunia 'Wave Purple' is a spreading garden and container annual highly attractive to aphids and caterpillars. Budworms (tobacco budworm) are the most destructive pest in the US, hollowing out buds and flowers. Aphids cluster on soft growth, whitefly build under leaves, and slugs attack plants at soil level.

Caterpillars bore into flower buds before they open, leaving ragged holes and droppings; heavily infested plants produce few blooms Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray at first sign; hand-pick caterpillars at dusk; use spinosad-based insecticide for heavy infestations

Dense colonies on shoot tips and flower stems cause distorted growth, bud drop, and sticky honeydew Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce ladybirds and lacewings

Adults cloud up when plants are disturbed; nymphs suck sap under leaves causing yellowing and honeydew Use yellow sticky traps; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to the undersides of leaves; avoid excess nitrogen

Young stems and leaves are rasped at soil level overnight, especially in wet conditions Scatter iron phosphate pellets; use copper tape on containers; water in the morning to reduce overnight moisture