Several pests can affect sunflowers, both in the field and during storage. Some common pests include: Sunflower moth (Homoeosoma electellum): Larvae of this moth feed on developing seeds, causing damage to the crop. Sunflower stem weevil (Cylindrocopturus adspersus): Larvae of this weevil bore into the stems of sunflower plants, causing wilting and stunting. Red sunflower seed weevil (Smicronyx fulvus): This weevil species damages sunflower seeds by feeding on them. Sunflower midge (Contarinia schulzi): Larvae of this fly species feed on developing sunflower heads, causing damage to the seeds. Banded sunflower moth (Cochylis hospes): Larvae of this moth feed on sunflower heads, often causing severe damage to the crop. Sunflower head moth (Dargida diffusa): Larvae of this moth species feed on the leaves and heads of sunflower plants, causing significant damage. Control methods for these pests may include cultural practices like crop rotation, planting resistant varieties, biological control agents, and judicious use of chemical pesticides when necessary. Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies can help to minimize pest damage while reducing reliance on chemical inputs.

1. Pests of Sunflower
By
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD.
Assistant Professor (Entomology)
JSACAT
Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

2. Leafhopper / Jassid, Amrasca biguttula biguttula,
Cicadellidae, Hemiptera
1
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Nature of damage
Both nymphs and adults suck the sap
from the under surface of leaves
Damage symptoms
Leaves become crinkled and cup shaped
brownish red colour develops on the
edges of leaves and the condition is
known as “hopper burn”
Widespread in the Indian subcontinent, covering
Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.

3. Stink bug, Nezara viridula, Pentatomidae, Hemiptera
2
These pests are found on the
earheads in the milky stage.
The injury is only very little.
Distribution: India, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

4. Plant bug, Dolycoris indicus, Pentatomidae,
Hemiptera
3
Distribution: India - Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha
Both nymphs and adults suck the seeds causing
shrivelling of seeds
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

5. Semilooper, Trichoplusia ni, Noctuidae, Lepidoptera
4
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Damage symptoms
Skeletonization and defoliation
Broad distribution, tropical or subtropical regions of world

6. Hemispherical eggs,
deposited singly on
either side of leaves
Light to dark green with a light
longitudinal stripe on either side
of the body
Pupae are yellow green
with a few brown patches
Forewings of the cabbage looper adult are
grayish to dark brown with a silvery spot near
the center; hindwings are pale brown
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

7. Bihar hairy caterpillar, Spilosoma obliqua, Eribidae
(Arctiidae), Lepidoptera
5
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Symptoms of damage
Young larvae feed gregariously mostly on the
under surface of the leaves
Feed on leaves and causes defoliation
It is found in south-eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

8. Forms a thin silken cocoon by
interwoven shed hairs of the
larvae
Orange coloured broad
transverse band with tufts of
yellow hairs that are dark at
both ends
Laid in clusters of 50-
100 on the lower side of
leaves
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

9. Crimson coloured moth with black dots and
a red abdomen. Pinkish wings with
numerous black spots
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

10. Tobaco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura, Noctuidae,
Lepidoptera
6
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Nature of damage
Early instar larva remain
gregarious and cause
skeletonization.
Later instar cause defoliation
Symptom of damage
Skeletonization, defoliation
The countries with the most widespread population of S. litura include but are not limited to China,
Indonesia, India, Japan, and Malaysia

11. Yellow in colour, laid in mass
and covered with hairs.
Pale greenish with dark markings; gregarious in
the early stages
Brown colour,
obtect pupa
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

12. Moth with wavy white markings on a brown forewing. Hindwings
white with a brown patch along the margin
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

13. Management
•Hand pick and destroy the caterpillar
•Collect and destroy the damaged plant parts
•Summer ploughing to expose to the pupae
•Use light trap
•Apply Bacillus thuringenesis
•Field release of egg parasitoid such as Telenomus
spodopterae and Telenomus remus
•Field release of entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea
rileyi
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

14. Black hairy caterpillar, Estigmene lactinea, Erebidae,
Lepidoptera
7
Distribution: Malaysia, Myanmar, South Korea, Taiwan. It is found in North America, and southwards
from Mexico to Colombia.
Adult: Large white moth with
crimson markings on head,
body and wings
Larva: Thick with
black head and hairs
all over the body
Nature of damage
Larva feeds on the leaves
Symptom of damage
Defoliation
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

15. Symptom/nature of damage
Larvae feed on the foliage, prefers
flowers and buds
When tender leaf buds are eaten
symmetrical holes or cuttings can be
seen upon unfolding of leaflets
Widespread in central and southern Europe, temperate Asia, Australia and Africa
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Capitulum borer, Helicoverpa armigera, Noctuidae,
Lepidoptera
8

16. On the forewings, there is speck that forms a V-shaped mark. Hind wings are dull
grey coloured with a black border on the distal end.
Spherical in shape with
sculptures in the form of
longitudinal ribs
The colour varies according to the food intake. Dorsal surface
bears dark broken stripes. Head is reddish-brown. Larva is highly
cannibalistic and readily eats one another.
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

17. Management
Deep summer ploughing
Install pheromone trap @ 5/ha
Use Trichogramma chilonis @ 1 lakh/ha or Chrysoperla carnea @ 50000/ha at 40 and 50
days after sowing
Apply HaNPV @ 250 Larval Equivalent /ha or B.t (Bacillus thuringiensis) 1 kg/ha or 5%
NSKE for monitoring eggs and early instar larvae
Conserve the bio control population of spiders, long horned grasshoppers, preying
mantids, robber fly, ants, green lace wing, damsel flies/dragon flies, flower bugs, shield
bugs, lady bird beetles, ground beetle, predatory cricket, braconids, trichogrammatids,
NPV, green muscardine fungus
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)