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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 #264504
Title: Pest management update on sunflower midge

Author
item KNODEL, JANET - North Dakota State University
item BEAUZAY, PATRICK - North Dakota State University
item CHIRUMAMILLA, ANITHA - North Dakota State University
item CHARLET, LAURENCE - Retired ARS Employee
item Gross, Theresa

Submitted to: World Wide Web
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2011
Publication Date: 1/20/2011
Citation: Knodel, J., Beauzay, P., Chirumamilla, A., Charlet, L.D., Gross, T.A. 2011. Pest management update on sunflower midge. Presentation at the National Sunflower Association Research Forum, January 12-13, 2011, Fargo, ND. Available: http://www.sunflowernsa.com/research/research-forum-presentations/2011/

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The sunflower midge (Contarinia schulzi) is a serious insect pest of sunflower, causing bud and head deformation that lead to poor seed development, and in many cases no seed development. This presentation describes the life cycle of the sunflower midge and shows images of infested sunflower heads. The Bracken method for assessing midge damage is explained and management strategies, such as planting date and hybrid selection, are described. The results of insecticide application trials indicated that insecticides were ineffective at managing damage from the sunflower midge.