We hate to use any insecticide but it is sometimes a necessity. We have found this to be an effective product. You might reseach control of Japanese Beetles. We are seeing beetles now that we've never had before, maybe due to a warmer than usual winter plus recent rain. This product has been effective for everything we have needed to use it to control. Link below. EP

Here is a link that might be useful: garden spray

Thanks enchantedplace, I will try that. Better than watching my babies eaten away.

Life

If you use this product, say goodbye to your butterflies! Pyrethrins are also highly toxic to toads, frogs etc. Could you maybe try something a little less drastic, like insecticidal soap? Or try to determine exactly what insect is doing the damage so that you could use a product which only targets that particular insect and does not harm beneficial ones?

I'm not finding anything out there. But my babies are being eaten alive. How can I tell what it is?

I have the same problem on my butterfly bushes and tonight I found the culprits. Earwigs and lots of them, I don't know if they are doing the eating but they were all over my butterfly bush that looks like it is going bald.

I am having the same problems, only in Illinois. Something is consuming our marigolds, sunflowers and morning glories (leaves) and we have seen ants. Our mailbox is infested with earwigs right now, could they be in my garden as well? What is the safest way of dealing with these two pests? Thanks for any help!

Use Diatomaceous earth or insecticidal soap It's supposed to kill earwigs. Sarah

Here is a link that might be useful: gardeners supply