Although I've had disastrously major damage to most of my very large collection of petunias on the deck, this was the first time that I've actually caught one of the nasty moths in action. Bud worm destruction has been an unexpected, new problem for me this year: https://blogs.k-state.edu/kansasbugs/2016/07/15/geraniums-and-petunias-beware-of-the-tobacco-budworm/

In previous years, growing petunias has been pretty much problem free. The severity of damage (from an insect I didn't even know existed) has come as a shock. Petunias and geraniums have been among my very favorite Summertime plants to grow. They are pretty and are non-toxic to pets. The later is a requirement for me. However, I'm now not certain if I should try to grow petunias again next year. This year has been such a bad experience, starting back in mid August.

I've been picking the budworm caterpillars off my petunias for the past month, but the problem still seems to only be increasing. The unseen larva have been doing most of the major damage, even before the flower buds even open. After that, the caterpillars work to finish off the plants. The moths usually do their egg laying overnight, and that is what starts the destruction.

Although I've always before been very hesitant to kill any kinds of moths or caterpillars, the moth above was the exception. After I took my photo, he got squashed but good!!! Then, again looking around at the massive destruction to my potted plants, I had absolutely no regrets about doing so. Wish I'd been able to stop even more of these moths... Unfortunately, they seem to be next to impossible to get rid of.

More information on these pests: https://ipm.missouri.edu/pestmonitoring/tbw/identification.cfm#Identification%20of%20Eggs