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 #239277
Title: Review of Sunflower Insect Pest Problems in North Dakota in 2008

Author
item KNODEL, JANET - North Dakota State University
item Charlet, Laurence
item BEAUZAY, PATRICK - North Dakota State University
item Gross, Theresa

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2009
Publication Date: 3/30/2009
Citation: Knodel, J.J., Charlet, L.D., Beauzay, P.B., Gross, T.A. 2009. Review of Sunflower Insect Pest Problems in North Dakota in 2008. Proceedings 31st Sunflower Research Workshop, National Sunflower Association, January 13-14, 2009, Fargo, ND. Available: http://www.sunflowernsa.com/research/research-workshop/documents/Knodel_PestReview_09.pdf

Interpretive Summary: The major insect pest species that cause economic losses to sunflower producers in North Dakota are red sunflower seed weevil, banded sunflower moth, and sunflower midge. New emerging insect pests include a longhorned beetle (Dectes texanus), sunflower seed maggot, sunflower bud moth, and lygus bug. Sunflower moth migrates occasionally into the northern Great Plains and can cause severe yield losses. This paper provides results of the 2008 sunflower survey for insect pests in ND and summarizes results of two insecticide efficacy studies. In September and October 2008, sunflower fields were surveyed in six states (ND, SD, MN, KS, CO and OK) and one Canadian province (Manitoba). The purpose of the survey is to assess yield and a number of other factors including insect damage. Seventy-seven fields were surveyed in ND in 2008. The sunflower survey provides useful current data and historical records on insect pest problems and assists entomology researchers and extension professionals on what insect pest problems to focus on. It also provides data on new and emerging pest issues. Strategies to reduce crop losses from sunflower insect pests in ND have focused primarily on insecticidal control. The efficacy of selected insecticides was evaluated for control of banded sunflower moth and red sunflower seed weevil in sunflower trials near Amenia, ND. Efficacy of selected insecticides also was evaluated for control of a longhorned beetle in sunflower plots near Linton, ND. Results revealed that some of the insecticide treatments reduced both banded sunflower moth and red sunflower seed weevil damage compared to the untreated checks. In addition, most of the insecticide treatments had significantly fewer stems infested by longhorned beetle compared to the untreated check. Although populations of Dectes were low, the preliminary results looked promising and additional efficacy testing is recommended. Insecticide studies conducted by sunflower entomologists provide producers, agronomists, extension professionals, and field scouts with important information on which insecticides provide the 'best' pest control and serve as a non-biased source of information for insecticide efficacy.

Technical Abstract: The major insect pest species that cause economic losses to sunflower producers in North Dakota are red sunflower seed weevil, banded sunflower moth, and sunflower midge. New emerging insect pests include a longhorned beetle (Dectes texanus), sunflower seed maggot, sunflower bud moth, and lygus bug. Sunflower moth migrates occasionally into the northern Great Plains and can cause severe yield losses. This paper provides results of the 2008 sunflower survey for insect pests in ND and summarizes results of two insecticide efficacy studies. In September and October 2008, sunflower fields were surveyed in six states (ND, SD, MN, KS, CO and OK) and one Canadian province (Manitoba). The purpose of the survey is to assess yield and a number of other factors including insect damage. Seventy-seven fields were surveyed in ND in 2008. The sunflower survey provides useful current data and historical records on insect pest problems and assists entomology researchers and extension professionals on what insect pest problems to focus on. It also provides data on new and emerging pest issues. Strategies to reduce crop losses from sunflower insect pests in ND have focused primarily on insecticidal control. The efficacy of selected insecticides was evaluated for control of banded sunflower moth and red sunflower seed weevil in sunflower trials near Amenia, ND. Efficacy of selected insecticides also was evaluated for control of a longhorned beetle in sunflower plots near Linton, ND. Results revealed that some of the insecticide treatments reduced both banded sunflower moth and red sunflower seed weevil damage compared to the untreated checks. In addition, most of the insecticide treatments had significantly fewer stems infested by longhorned beetle compared to the untreated check. Although populations of Dectes were low, the preliminary results looked promising and additional efficacy testing is recommended. Insecticide studies conducted by sunflower entomologists provide producers, agronomists, extension professionals, and field scouts with important information on which insecticides provide the 'best' pest control and serve as a non-biased source of information for insecticide efficacy.