Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #209465
Title: Impact of irrigation on larval density of stem-infesting pests of cultivated sunflower in Kansas

Author
item CHARLET, LAURENCE
item AIKEN, ROBERT - KANSAS STATE UNIV
item MEYER, RON - COLORADO STATE UNIV
item GEBRE-AMLAK, ASSEFA - COLORADO STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2007
Publication Date: 10/1/2007
Citation: Charlet, L.D., Aiken, R.M., Meyer, R.F., Gebre-Amlak, A. 2007. Impact of irrigation on larval density of stem-infesting pests of cultivated sunflower in Kansas. Journal of Economic Entomology. 100(5):1555-1559.

Interpretive Summary: Stem-infesting insect pests of cultivated sunflower within the central Plains is a concern to producers chiefly due to losses caused by plant lodging from the sunflower stem weevil, Cylindrocopturus adspersus and Dectes texanus texanus LeConte. The incidence of a root boring moth, Pelochrista womonana (Kearfott), also has increased. Experiments were conducted in Kansas during 2000-2001 to investigate the effect of irrigation timing and intensity on density of C. adspersus, D. texanus, and P. womonana larvae within cultivated sunflower stalks. Supplemental soil moisture provided by irrigation during the growing season reduced insect densities of the sunflower stem weevil and P. womonana in the sunflower stalk. Results showed that ensuring adequate moisture during the growing season can assist in reducing stem-infesting insect densities, revealing an additional advantage of crop irrigation beyond improved sunflower productivity.

Technical Abstract: The guild of stem-infesting insect pests of cultivated sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., within the central Plains is a concern to producers chiefly due to losses caused by plant lodging from the sunflower stem weevil, Cylindrocopturus adspersus (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Dectes texanus texanus LeConte (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). The incidence of a root boring moth, Pelochrista womonana (Kearfott) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), also has increased. Experiments were conducted in Kansas during 2000-2001 to investigate the effect of irrigation timing and intensity on density of C. adspersus, D. texanus, and P. womonana larvae within cultivated sunflower stalks. Supplemental soil moisture provided by irrigation during the growing season reduced insect densities of the sunflower stem weevil and P. womonana in the sunflower stalk. Results showed that ensuring adequate moisture during the growing season can assist in reducing stem-infesting insect densities, revealing an additional advantage of crop irrigation beyond improved sunflower productivity.