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Banded Sunflower Moth
The banded sunflower moth is a small, straw-colored moth about 1/4 inch long. It has a brown triangular area in the middle portion of the front wing. The newly hatched larvae are off-white and about 1/16 inch long. The head capsule is dark-brown. As the larvae grows, there is a gradual color change to light pink, then to reddish or purplish and finally to green at maturity. The full grown larva will be just under 1/2 inch long.
Banded sunflower moths begin emerging from the soil about mid July and can be found in fields until late August. The moths begin to lay eggs within a week after emergence. Eggs are laid on the bracts of the sunflower heads beginning in the late bud stage. The eggs hatch in about 5 to 8 days.
Newly hatched larvae move from the bracts to the florets of the sunflower head, where they enter open florets to feed. If eggs hatch prior to the opening of the florets, larvae will feed on bract tissue before moving to the florets. The larvae continue to feed in the florets until the third instar, reducing the total number of mature seed produced. During later stages of larval development, the worm tunnels through the base of the developing seed, usually entering at the top and leaving after the contents are eaten. Each larva may destroy several (6 to 7) mature seed in addition to the florets eaten by the earlier instar worms. Silk webbing on mature sunflower heads indicates the presence of larvae in the head.
Monitor fields by counting moths on 20 plants from 5 different sites for a total of 100 plants. Sampling in early evening or early morning when the moths are most active will normally provide the most accurate counts. During the day, the moths remain quiet, resting on the undersides of the lower leaves of sunflower plants. When disturbed, they flutter from plant to plant.
USDA research trials conducted in North Dakota indicate that one banded sunflower moth per two plants is a reasonable economic threshold for this pest when using evening or morning scouting techniques. The threshold, when using daytime scouting is 2 adult moths per hundred plants.
Insecticides registered for banded sunflower moth control are Asana XL, Baythroid, Decis 1.5EC, Furadan 4F, Lorsban 4E, Warhawk, Yuma 4E, Proaxis, Warrior and Taiga Z.
Since banded sunflower moths have a tendency to congregate around field margins just prior to flowering, treatment of the margins at this time can accomplish significant reduction of the adults while at the same time minimizing insecticide treatment costs and impact on pollinators.
For more information consult the Insect Control Guide at http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/pests/e1143w1.htm
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