What's eating my western sunflower?

Western Sunflower is a tough prairie native but aphids and leafhoppers still colonize its stems in summer. Sunflower beetles skeletonize leaves in warm regions. Deer may browse plants in mixed-grass prairie gardens. Its dry, lean-soil habitat naturally limits slug pressure. Minimal irrigation and good airflow reduce most insect problems.

Colonies on stem tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew, wilting tips, and reduced flower count. Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap; avoid excess fertilizer that creates succulent growth.

Pale stippling across leaf surfaces; can transmit aster yellows phytoplasma causing distorted flowers. Remove infected plants promptly; use row covers early in season; apply pyrethrin if numbers are high.

Adults and larvae eat leaf tissue, leaving skeletal leaves in midsummer. Hand-pick; apply spinosad or pyrethrin; plant in diversity with other prairie species to dilute pressure.