What's eating my zinnias? - Ask Extension
Can you tell me what's eating my beautiful zinnias? They are little brownish bugs, about 1/4" long. I thought I was taking pictures of them on...
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What's eating my zinnias? #806039
Asked August 13, 2022, 7:35 AM EDT
Can you tell me what's eating my beautiful zinnias? They are little brownish bugs, about 1/4" long. I thought I was taking pictures of them on the leaves, but they barely show up. There's a couple on the first picture, but the other 2 pictures just show the damage they are doing. HELP!
Wayne County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello
There are a number of insects that eat leaves and flower petals- earwigs, beetles, caterpillars, weevils.
Your picture is blurry when magnified so I can’t tell what you have. Please shake a few off into a jar, cap the jar and freeze it. Then tip out the frozen insects onto a plain sheet of paper and photograph them. Use good lighting ( sunlight) and get as close as you can without the picture being blurred. If your camera has a zoom or magnifying feature( most smartphone cameras do), that may help.
I will watch for your new pictures.
There are a number of insects that eat leaves and flower petals- earwigs, beetles, caterpillars, weevils.
Your picture is blurry when magnified so I can’t tell what you have. Please shake a few off into a jar, cap the jar and freeze it. Then tip out the frozen insects onto a plain sheet of paper and photograph them. Use good lighting ( sunlight) and get as close as you can without the picture being blurred. If your camera has a zoom or magnifying feature( most smartphone cameras do), that may help.
I will watch for your new pictures.
Dear Laura,
Thank you for your quick response. Unfortunately I shook off all the bugs yesterday, just after taking the pictures. I couldn't find any on my zinnias today, but I took these pictures of what might be eggs on the leaves. They are also eating my peonies and mums but not geraniums and hostas...so far.
I know what earwigs and caterpillars look like, and it's not either of them.
The bugs are oval and brownish. Does this help?
Jan
Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer
Possibly a brown weevil of some sort. The control for weevils is to shake them off into a bucket of soapy water. Check the plants often, at least every other day and repeat.
Zinnias are loved by butterflies and other pollinators, so I would hesitate to use any chemical. If you are raising flowers for sale or for arranging, you can net them with fine netting ( e.g. tulle purchased by the yard from a fabric store) or garden floating row covers. Tuck the covers closely around the stems as some insects crawl up from the soil.
If it is earwigs, go out after dark with a light and examine plants, as the earwigs can be out after dark.
The second set of pictures are blurred, but this looks like frass( insect poo), or possibly shed skins. Some of the feeding on the edges could be from cutter bees. You probably have a variety of insects at work.
Zinnias are loved by butterflies and other pollinators, so I would hesitate to use any chemical. If you are raising flowers for sale or for arranging, you can net them with fine netting ( e.g. tulle purchased by the yard from a fabric store) or garden floating row covers. Tuck the covers closely around the stems as some insects crawl up from the soil.
If it is earwigs, go out after dark with a light and examine plants, as the earwigs can be out after dark.
The second set of pictures are blurred, but this looks like frass( insect poo), or possibly shed skins. Some of the feeding on the edges could be from cutter bees. You probably have a variety of insects at work.
I am adding some control options articles. The Baccillus products( bt) are considered organic.
https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/cut-flowers-insects-mites-in-commercial-production-of-field
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/asiatic-garden-beetle
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/asiatic-garden-beetle
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/japanese-beetles-trees-shrubs-and-flowers
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/leafcutter-bees-shrubs-and-flowers
https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/cut-flowers-insects-mites-in-commercial-production-of-field
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/asiatic-garden-beetle
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/asiatic-garden-beetle
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/japanese-beetles-trees-shrubs-and-flowers
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/leafcutter-bees-shrubs-and-flowers
Dear Laura,
Thank you for your repeated emails. I'll continue to watch for the insects and try soapy water and hand picking when I see them. I love seeing the butterflies and bees drinking from the flowers, so I don't want to harm those "good" insects.
If I find one of the culprits, I'll use your suggested method to capture, freeze, then photograph and will send the picture to you.
Thanks again for your help.
Go Green!
Jan
Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer
Great, we will be here!
