Cone flowers issues

Maria C
by Maria C
I've been trying to grow coneflowers from seeds tree years now ( no success the past two ) this year finally they grow, but then when they start giving flowers I notice the that someting was wrong, the center looks so brown and uneven I cut the flower and pinch it open and what a surprise I find a lot of tiny worms, I cut all the flowers that look like they have the same problem hoping that I will get rid of the problem but unfortunately the new flowers have the same problem and also my zinnias have been affected by, what can I do ?
This is the one messing up my flowers .
  2 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Sep 01, 2014
    I believe that is the caterpillar of the sunflower moth. Try using a microbial insecticide just after the blooms on your coneflower open, and thereafter as needed. You are right to destroy old infested heads because this will help to reduce the sunflower moth population.
  • Maria C Maria C on Sep 02, 2014
    Thank you so much Douglas, you always help me a lot , I appreciate your valuable help, I will do that.