What is worrisome is that this pest seems to affect many of the Asteraceae family. For me personally I will have so much less colour this August if the spread continues.

Ugh.

I have these too, both plant types. I thought the heliopsis might be some other insect as it looks a bit different, but now I am pretty sure it is the same as you describe.

Let me guess, helenium is in the same family?

Indeed it is.

This worm is rampant in my heliopsis "Tuscan Sun" as most of the flowers have some dark rotted spot in the "cone". I split one in half just now and here is the worm in question.

So many plants in this family are at great risk. This isnt good.

Looks like I've got these too. Ugh!

TotallyConfused

Just found them today. Thanks for the heads up Rouge. Bummer........

I probably have this caterpillar too. I have been thinking the damage was caused by mites, earwigs, and/or beetles since the coneflowers are looking pretty ratty this year.

This pest is so rampant in my 4 "Tuscan Sun" Heliopsis.

This plant is the most incredible bloom machine but in each of the two years I have had these 4 specimens they have been 'home' to both a major infestation of aphids and this sunflower moth larvae.

I am assuming that any effective insecticide for these larvae will harm those very important beneficial pollinating insects i.e. bees and so regretfully I will consider a replacement border plant this winter (I am counting on you guys and girls for your advice).

What about BT? It is effective with lots of types of caterpillars and won't hurt the beneficial insects. Worth a try?

In fact I have a bottle of BTK on hand. Doing some on-line looking it does appear it is...."safe" for many insects. I may give it a try on one of the affected plants as an experiment.

This post was edited by rouge21 on Mon, Aug 5, 13 at 1:05

sunflower moth larvae perhaps