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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #66859
Title: SUNFLOWER INTEGRATED INSECT PEST MANAGEMENT

Author
item Charlet, Laurence
item BREWER, GARY - NDSU

Submitted to: University of Minnesota World Wide Web Site
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/17/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Wild sunflower, a complex of Helianthus species native to North America, evolved with a large number of insect associates. When large-scale commercial planting of sunflower began in the 1970's, many of the insect associates transferred to the cultivated crop. Over 150 phytophagous insect species have been reported from cultivated and native sunflower. Sunflower is the only row crop in North America coexisting with its native congeners. This has exacerbated the development of insect problems by providing monocultures where only isolated hosts were once available. A number of insect species have adapted to cultivated sunflower and have become economic pests. The discussion of insects associated with sunflower is organized by the plant part attacked. Stem and and root feeding species include the sunflower bud moth, the sunflower stem weevil, black sunflower stem weevil, and carrot beetle. Foliage feeding species include the painted lady or thistle caterpillar and the sunflower beetle. Head and seed infesting species include the sunflower moth, banded sunflower moth, red and gray sunflower seed weevils, sunflower midge, and sunflower head clipping weevil.