Artichoke plume moth.

The artichoke plume moth! Thank you, this is very helpful. Clearly these little insects likes more than just artichoke. They are making little holes in all my plants, roses, petunias, citrus trees, even my lamb's ear looks like someone used a hole puncher on every leaf. Every once in a while I find a little green caterpillar to squash but from what I've learned on the internet the larvae are tiny, burrow in the plant, and begin eating the plant from the inside out. I've been puzzled by seeing all these little holes in my plants, yet could never easily see what was the cause. The infestation isn't too bad yet, but it's taking it's toll on my plants.

Suggestions for effective treatment? I just sprayed some Spinosad on my plants today. Should that suffice? Any other recommendations. Thanks again.

There are many plume moth species, Mdip. This one 'might' be the Artichoke plume moth, but I think that there are other contenders with that type of wing pattern, too. The adults tend to be pretty specific about what kind of host plant to lay eggs on. For example, there is a Geranium Plume Moth, a Snapdragon Plume moth, etc.

The damage you describe is not what I would look for from a Plume Moth caterpillar. Could you take some good images of a leaf or two? Perhaps you've got some sort of generalist out there. Or quite likely, more than one kind of pest. Whenever I read a description where someone uses the term "cookie cutter", I immediately think of leaf cutter bees. That's why a picture of the actual damage would be helpful.

Who knows? The Plume Moths, whatever kind they are, may just be visiting your yard for nectar and not egg laying.

Could be a different plume moth but it's full-tilt wild thistle season in SoCal and Platyptilia carduidactyla are picky but not too picky. The wing pattern is pretty good and without being able to do wing veination, well, it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck....
I'm betting that something else (or multiple somethings) are response for the broad range of damage.

IIRC that family of moths doesn't go for that broad range of plants. I'm in the 'multiple pest' camp.

Dan

Yeah, that's what I mean in my hurried, not-so clear post. That species of moth doesn't limit itself to artichokes but will go after any sort of thistle. When the wild thistles are around in that area that moth is darn near everywhere but it will only feed on artichokes and closely related plants.

Sorry for not posting more pics, but they are a pain to post in this site given size restrictions for photos. Anyhow, I'm pretty certain it's this moth doing the damage. My garden is infested with them. At night, when I just rattle the branches of any plant I see a bunch of them fly out from underneath the plant. Little blood suckers. I talked to some folks at the garden center nearby and the artichoke plume moth is an opportunistic feeder and certainly does not limit itself to just artichoke. It can eat almost anything and can wipe out a garden. I've been spraying BT everywhere like crazy and this is killing all the caterpillars and larvae but not the adult plume moth itself. They just keep laying their eggs and it'll be a never ending cycle of me spraying BT unless I can figure out a way to get rid of the adult moth itself. I've sprayed spinosad and organic soap and maybe this kills the ones I manage to spray directly, but every night it seems like more and more of these moths are present. Any suggestions on how to kill, deter or get rid of the adult moths from my garden. I heard wasps are natural enemies, but I don't want to grow a wasp nest in my garden. Any suggestions?

Many people post their images in one of the many photo sharing websites, then attach a link here.

HU 895, you do understand that these moths do no damage themselves, right? Search for and take pictures of their larvae to see if that's the culprit. There's no question in my mind that the adults would love the nectar and pollen rich Angelonia, my favorite summer annual. Mine are a favorite of butterflies, moths, and many other types of pollinators. Hummingbirds visit them, too.