welcome to GoY :o)

Certainly in the uk I have found small green ones munching the flowers. as to which species of moth/butterfly they were I never got round to id'ing them. I usually pick them off and put them on the bird table or feed them to the fish.

So I suspect you will have similar in the us. can you upload a picture?

They are BUD WORM caterpillars (Moth) they eat from inside the buds out – you would need to check how to control them

I've looked at uk bud worm moths and they aren't the ones I had so a different insect. but they could well be what is attacking the dianthus.

There are three pests which may cause problems on Dianthus. Aphids - Thrips & Spider mites or it could be from the Tortrix moth. That's about all I know

Caterpillars (and slugs) will eat anything if they're desperate! At least that's my experience.