worms in asters

Question

I found two worms, each in the flower bud of my perennial Aster plant. I pulled them out. How can I treat this problem? Will it spread to the entire plant? This is my first experience with the perennial Aster. It is in a partial sun/shade location. How should I feed it and do I need to spray for insects?

Answer 1

A photo would aid in my identification as there is a wide range of worm-like pests that attack asters including beet armyworms, cabbage loopers, carnation leafrollers, corn earworms, cutworms and omnivorous leaftiers. Hand picking the pests as you have done is typically recommended although some might advocate the use of Bacillus thuringiensis.