A single cutworm can kill several plants in a night. Newly planted annual flowers are most vulnerable. The sunflower maggot infests the stems of Helichrysum causing the stem to collapse. Chrysanthemum gall midge bores into the leaves, stems or buds which results in the formation of cone-shaped galls in which they develop. As a result buds become distorted and stems and leaves twisted.
Cut flowers are vulnerable to attack by one or more species of beetles.
Only a few of the more common and injurious species are covered here. Both adults and larvae have chewing mouthparts that cause damage. Adult Japanese beetles feed during the day on a large number of flowering plants. Adults emerge from the soil in June and July and feed on foliage for about 30-45 days. Just before the female adult dies, she lays about 50 eggs under the soil surface in lawns or other grassy areas.