Sunflower Crop Insects A Presentation To IPM

Course/FFS Participants By

Mr. Allah Dad Khan Provincial Coordinator IPM KPK For MINFAL Pakistan

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

Larva feeding in seed Caterpillar bore into head

1.Capitulum borer (Head borer): Helicoverpa armigera

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

Pupa Adult

1.Capitulum borer (Head borer): Helicoverpa armigera

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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