I have some pansies I would like to plant this weekend, and am wondering if it would be harmful to cut back the lantanas, which are in the space where the pansies will go. Don't want to dig out the lantanas, and still noticing a few butterflies/moths on them, so do not want to cut back completely. However, do need to get the pansies in the ground. We have many trees, so the pansies can really only go in where the lantanas are. Any hints appreciated.

This is your call. We always cut ours back to the ground. If you are concerned about the wildlife you might have to find an intermediate solution.
Tony M

Lantana is a perennial. Why don't you put the pansies somewhere else? There may be beneficial insects overwintering in the lantana... From other sources, folks say to cut the lantana after the first freeze. I leave mine alone. If we get snow, it makes a pretty landing for it and adds interest to the garden. Don't know if it hurts it, though. Mine seems to do allright.

Of course I con't know where I read it, but I DID read that you should NOT cut back lantana. So last year was the 1st time I didn't cut it back & I found that I had to trim it a little when the new growth came in the spring. But I didn't see much difference, maybe some more blooming this summer over the last years.
Patty

Come to think of it, the one time I did cut back my lantana, it did not come back. It could be that it did not come back as a result of something else , but just thought I should mention it.
Something did grow in its place. All through the summer I wondered why the lantana was not blooming yet. Then one day in September, beautiful red shoots of flowers crowned this lovely plant. It sure isn't lantana, but the hummingbirds love it!