Cereal: Variety Selection

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| Spring and Winter Canola | Other Crops | Soil Management |
| Soil Fertility and Nutrient Use | Field Scouting |
| On-Farm Stored Grain Management | Weed Control |
| Insects and Pests of Field Crops | Diseases of Field Crops | Appendices |

Pub 811: Agronomy Guide > Insects and Pests of Field Crops > Sunflower Insects and Pests

Excerpt from Agronomy Guide for Field Crops
Order OMAFRA Publication 811: Agronomy Guide for Field Crops

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Sunflower Beetle
• Tarnished Plant bug
  

Introduction

Though rare, a few insect pests have been known to infest fields in Ontario. For confectionary production, yield and quality can be impacted.

Sunflower Beetle (Zygogramma exclamationis)

Sunflower beetles look like smaller Colorado potato beetles. They are approximately 8 mm (1/3 in.) in length with a reddish-brown head, cream-coloured wing covers, with four chocolate-brown stripes running longitudinally along the wings. The fourth stripe at the outside edge of the wing is shaped like an exclamation point. The larvae are yellowish-green in colour, have a humped back and a brown head capsule. Both the adult and larvae feed on the leaves and can be particularly damaging to the seedling crop. Early-planted fields are most at risk. Scout 20 plants in five areas of the field, avoiding the field edges. If one to two adults per plant are found feeding on the seedling crop or 25% defoliation has occurred and the adults or larvae are still actively feeding, control is warranted. Delaying planting can help avoid future infestations.

Tarnished Plant bug (Lygus lineolaris)

Tarnished plant bug is an important pest for sunflowers.