Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Annuals and Perennials > Petunia > Holes in flowers
Petunia > Flowers > Holes in flowers
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Tobacco Budworm
Heliothis virescens
- Occurs late summer
- Irregular or round holes appear on flower buds
- Small black specks of excrement may be visible on damaged flower buds
- Caterpillar color is variable; they are most commonly brown, but can also be red, purple, or green. Has white stripes running lengthwise along the abdomen with numerous erect hairs. Can reach up to 1 ¾ inches in length
- More information on Tobacco Budworms
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Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Diabrotica undecimpunctata
- Active from June through September
- Beetles chew on flowers
- Adult is ¼ inch long, bright yellow-green body with 12 black spots
- More information on Spotted Cucumber Beetles
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Variegated Cutworm
Peridroma saucia
- Chews irregular holes between veins of leaves; can completely eat leaves
- Feeds on flowers and bores into buds
- Caterpillar is dark-colored (brown to black); approximately 1 ½ to 2 inches long; series of pale yellow diamond-shaped spots along the top of the body starting near the head
- May have dark-colored ‘W’ near the posterior end of the body
- Curl into ball when disturbed
- More information on Variegated Cutworms
