Newly hatched larvae are yellow in color. Nearly 80 percent of the eggs are laid on the plant within 4 to 7 days after buds begin to open during the late R4 growth stage (Fig. Moths are highly attracted to plants that are beginning to bloom. It is most often seen resting on sunflower heads during the blooming period, especially in the early morning and early evening. The adult is a small, slender, silver-to buff-gray moth about ½ inch long (Figs. Sunflower moth infestations are usually heaviest when early planted fields bloom during May and June, with another smaller moth flight possible later in the season, especially in the High Plains. The sunflower moth-also called the “head moth”-is the single most important sunflower pest in Texas. (Photo by Scott Russell) Sunflower moth | Lepidoptera: Pyralidae, Homoeosoma electellum (Hulst) They should also understand pest biology and the control measures that are most effective.įigure 1: Sunflower moths. Producers should be able to identify the insect pests that reduce sunflower yield and know when those pests are most likely to occur during the growth of the plant. However, the judicious use of insecticides is often required for successful sunflower production in Texas. Sunflowers also respond well under full irrigation.Ĭultural practices that help reduce insect problems include crop rotation, modified planting dates, weed control, volunteer and wild sunflower control, and tillage. Drought tolerance makes sunflowers an attractive dryland crop and an option in areas with limited irrigation. Sunflowers can be an alternative crop where plantings of other crops have been destroyed by wind, sand, rain, or hail. These are used for human consumption in a variety of food products.īecause the sunflower has a relatively short growing season, it is suitable primarily as a spring-planted crop or as a second crop after wheat. Confectionery sunflower seeds are usually large with black and white stripes. They are processed into sunflower oil and also used as bird feed. The small, black seeds of oilseed sunflowers contain 38 to 50 percent oil. Stem weevils, seed weevils, stalk girdlers, and thistle caterpillars are occasional pests that can be quite serious when abundant.īoth oilseed and non-oilseed (confectionery) sunflowers are grown in Texas. The sunflower moth is the major common pest of sunflowers. Of the 50 insect species recorded on sunflowers in Texas, about 15 are considered potentially major pests. ![]() ![]() Insect pests are often a major limiting factor in Texas sunflower production.
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