This document discusses 5 major insect pests that damage sunflower crops: 1. Helicoverpa armigera (capitulum borer) whose larvae feed on and bore into the developing sunflower heads. 2. Spilosoma obliqua (hairy caterpillar) whose larvae feed on and defoliate sunflower leaves in groups. 3. Spodoptera litura (tobacco caterpillar) whose larvae also feed on and damage sunflower leaves, shoots, bracts and seeds. 4. Amrasca biguttula biguttula (leafhopper) whose adults and nymphs suck plant sap and cause yellowing and curling of leaves. 5

2. Sunflower Crop Insects
A Presentation To IPM Course/FFS Participants
By
Mr. Allah Dad Khan
Provincial Coordinator IPM KPK For MINFAL
Pakistan

3. Symptoms of damage:
Leaf Feeding
 The larva feeds on the
developing seeds and
bore the head
 Fungal developed and
head starts rotting
 The larva consumes leaf
in early stage of growth
and move towards the
capitulum and tunnel the
head
1.Capitulum borer (Head borer): Helicoverpa
armigera

4. Larva feeding in seed Caterpillar bore into head
1.Capitulum borer (Head borer): Helicoverpa
armigera

5. Identification of the pest:
Larva
 Egg: Spherical in shape and creamy
white in colour, laid singly
 Larva: Shows colour variation from
greenish to brown. It has dark brown
grey lines on the body with lateral
white lines and also has dark and
pale bands
 Pupa: Brown in colour, occurs in
soil, leaf, pod and crop debris
 Adult: Light pale brownish yellow
stout moth. Forewings are olive
green to pale brown with a dark
brown circular spot in the centre.
Hind wings are pale smoky white
with a broad blackish outer margin
1.Capitulum borer (Head borer): Helicoverpa
armigera

6. Pupa Adult
1.Capitulum borer (Head borer): Helicoverpa
armigera

7. Symptoms of damage:
Larval Feeding
 Young larvae feed
gregariously mostly on
the under surface of the
leaves
 Caterpillars feed on
leaves and in severe
infestation the whole
crop is defoliated
 Drying up of infected
leaves is the main
symptom
2.Hairy caterpillar: Spilosoma obliqua

8. Identification of the pest:
 Egg: Laid in cluster on
the underside of leaves
 Larva: Covered with
long yellowish to black
hairs
 Adult: Medium sized
brown moth with a red
abdomen. Wings pinkish
with numerous black
spots
2.Hairy caterpillar: Spilosoma obliqua

9. Symptoms of damage:
Larva feeding
 The larvae feed on the
tender leaves, shoots,
bracts and petals
 Later, the larvae spread
in the field causing
defoliation
 The larvae also feeds
on the developing
seeds in capitulum
3.Tobacco caterpillar : Spodoptera litura

10. Identification of the pest:
Adult
 Egg: Egg masses appear
golden brown
 Larva: Pale greenish with
dark markings, gregarious
in the early stages
 Adult: Forewings are
brown colour with wavy
white marking. Hind wings
are white in colour with a
brown patch along the
margin
2.Hairy caterpillar: Spilosoma obliqua

11. Symptoms of damage:
 The adult and nymphs
suck the plant sap
 The infected leaves show
pale yellow colouration
 In case of heavy
infestation the leaves
turn inwards
 The leaf edges may turn
light pinkish brown
4.Leaf hopper (jassids): Amrasca biguttula
biguttula

12. Identification of the pest:
 Nymphs: Pale greenish
almost translucent and
walk diagonally
 Adults: Greenish
yellow, wedge shaped
with a pair of black spots
on vertex and a black
spot on each of the
forewings
4.Leaf hopper (jassids): Amrasca biguttula
biguttula

13. Symptoms of damage:
 The birds damage
starts from the milky
stage and continues till
harvest
 These consumes on an
average of 152
seeds/day
5.Parakeet: Psittacula krameri

14. Identification of the pest:
 It is slim, green
parakeet with the
typical short, heavy,
deeply hooked, red bill.
Hollow space in a tree
trunk is the nest of the
bid
5.Parakeet: Psittacula krameri