Dianthus Pests - Ask Extension
I'm growing dianthus for the first time in containers on my patio. The individual plants are in different spots and two look ready to bloom. The other...
Knowledgebase
Dianthus Pests #869828
Asked May 23, 2024, 5:15 PM EDT
I'm growing dianthus for the first time in containers on my patio. The individual plants are in different spots and two look ready to bloom. The other has two buds that look like they were chewed through to eat the flowers. I attached pictures. Any idea what might cause this?
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
Hello,
The insects which are listed as pests of dianthus: thrips, mites and aphids, would not cause this type of damage to the flower buds. Additionally, I could not find any information online for pests which may target flower buds of dianthus or any other plants in the Caryophyllaceae family.
I reached out to Joe Boggs, an Extension Educator with the OSU Extension office in Hamilton County, for more help with this question. He suggested that the damage could be the work of a "generalist" insect with chewing mouthparts. This could be a beetle, caterpillar, or grasshopper nymph.
If you have not witnessed any insect on the flowers or in the pots during the day, it might be that they are visiting the plants at night. You could check with a flashlight after dark in order to see if that is when the buds are being eaten.
Should you decide to do some detective work and spot something, please write back with a detailed description of the guilty party and I will do further research.
I have listed two links below for articles with information about dianthus.
Thanks for asking Ask Extension.
Betsy B. - MGV
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dianthus-gratianopolitanus/
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/dianthus-baths-pink/
The insects which are listed as pests of dianthus: thrips, mites and aphids, would not cause this type of damage to the flower buds. Additionally, I could not find any information online for pests which may target flower buds of dianthus or any other plants in the Caryophyllaceae family.
I reached out to Joe Boggs, an Extension Educator with the OSU Extension office in Hamilton County, for more help with this question. He suggested that the damage could be the work of a "generalist" insect with chewing mouthparts. This could be a beetle, caterpillar, or grasshopper nymph.
If you have not witnessed any insect on the flowers or in the pots during the day, it might be that they are visiting the plants at night. You could check with a flashlight after dark in order to see if that is when the buds are being eaten.
Should you decide to do some detective work and spot something, please write back with a detailed description of the guilty party and I will do further research.
I have listed two links below for articles with information about dianthus.
Thanks for asking Ask Extension.
Betsy B. - MGV
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dianthus-gratianopolitanus/
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/dianthus-baths-pink/
This may be the culprit. I went out tonight and found it on the bee balm planted next to the dianthus.
Good work!
That appears to be a long horned grasshopper nymph. While they can be destructive in high numbers, grasshoppers and katydids rarely get to be at those levels in backyard gardens in Ohio. They often move on to other areas and also are a food source for birds, spiders, amphibians, and small mammals.
If you are concerned about your potted plants, you could cover them with netting at night for the time being.
Thank you for responding and have a great day.
Betsy B. - MGV
https://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/grasshoppers/grasshoppers.htm
That appears to be a long horned grasshopper nymph. While they can be destructive in high numbers, grasshoppers and katydids rarely get to be at those levels in backyard gardens in Ohio. They often move on to other areas and also are a food source for birds, spiders, amphibians, and small mammals.
If you are concerned about your potted plants, you could cover them with netting at night for the time being.
Thank you for responding and have a great day.
Betsy B. - MGV
https://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/grasshoppers/grasshoppers.htm
