This moth destroys many of my salvia flowers too. I use Bayer Advance Rose & Flower Insect Killer and it works great. I spray it in the evenings so that the hummingbirds and bees are not exposed to it. It protects the plants for about 30 days or longer.

I don't like pesticides but found there isn't much choice against these guys.

Anygreen, thanks for your response. I may have to resort to that, but it will be my last choice. I raise butterflies and moths (not THIS moth, but Sphinx species), and I don't want to risk it. That leads me to think of the effect it could have on the night-flying sphinx. I may have to stop growing the Salvias most affected.

Anyway, thanks so much!

Susan

Once the spray dries your moths, etc. can feed on the flowers with no problems. Are your plants small enough that maybe you could temporarily tent or put bags over the buds that you spray until dry?

Out of curiousity, what kind of Salvias are getting attacked?

Consider this. Using insecticidal sprays like Bayer are systemic, so not good. Remain in the plant and are ingested by pollinators. Also, most nursery plants are grown with imaproquid(sp) also systemic, so a concern if you're trying to protect hummers and butterflies.