Insects Feeding
on this Plant:
____________
Helianthus annuus (Annual Sunflower) [Asteraceae]
(Observations are from Barnes, Wyoming Agr. Exp. Sta., Clark et al., Needham et al., Vickery & Kevan, Brust et al., Joern, Charlet & Gavloski, Spencer & Steyskal, ScaleNet, Baranowski & Slater)
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Brentidae: Apion occidentale (Black Sunflower Stem Weevil) [adults feed on leaves & stems, larvae bore through petioles & stems, syn. Fallapion occidentale] CG2011; Chrysomelidae: Microrhopala excavata Clk2004, Ophraella communa Clk2004, Zygogramma exclamationis (Sunflower Beetle) [adults & larvae feed on foliage] Clk2004 CG2011; Curculionidae: Baris strenua (Sunflower Root Weevil) [adults feed on leaves & stems, larvae feed on roots] CG2011, Cylindrocopturus adspersus (Sunflower Stem Weevil) [adults feed on leaves & stems, larvae bore through stems & root crown] CG2011, Smicronyx fulvus (Red Sunflower Seed Weevil) [larvae feed on seeds] CG2011, Smicronyx sordidus (Gray Sunflower Seed Weevil) [larvae feed on seeds] CG2011
Diptera (Flies)
Agromyzidae: Agromyza subnigripes [larvae are leaf-miners] Ndm1928, Amauromyza maculosa [larvae are blotch leaf-miners; widespread] SS1986, Calycomyza jucunda [larvae are leaf-miners] Ndm1928, Calycomyza platyptera [larvae are leaf-miners; found in Maryland & Mississippi] SS1986, Chromatomyia syngenesiae (Chrysanthemum Leafminer) Ndm1928, Liriomyza assimilis [larvae are leaf-miners; found in Illinois & Pennsylvania] SS1986, Liriomyza trifolii [larvae are leaf-miners, polyphagous; widespread in E USA] SS1986, Metopomyza scutellata [larvae are leaf-miners] Ndm1928; Cecidomyiidae: Contarinia schulzi (Sunflower Midge) [larvae feed in flowerheads] CG2011; Tephritidae: Neotephritis finalis (Sunflower Seed Maggot) [larvae feed on florets & developing seeds of flowerheads] CG2011, Strauzia longipennis (Sunflower Maggot) [larvae bore through stems] CG2011
Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Coreidae: Leptoglossus oppositus [polyphagous] BS1986, Leptoglossus phyllopus [polyphagous] BS1986
Homoptera (Sucking Insects)
Diaspididae: Rhizaspidiotus dearnessi (Dearness Scale) [found on plant crowns & stems, sometimes below the soil surface; mostly species in the Asteraceae are hosts of this insect; it is widely distributed in the USA, also occurring in Ontario] SN2014; Pseudococcidae: Phenacoccus solenopsis (Solenopsis Mealybug) [feeds on foliage & sometimes roots, polyphagous; widespread] SN2014
Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Skippers, & Moths)
Gracillariidae: Cremastobombycia ignota [larvae are leaf-miners] Ndm1928; Nymphalidae: Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) [larvae feed on foliage, polyphagous] Bar1999; Pyralidae: Homoeosoma electellum (Sunflower Moth) [larvae feed in flowerheads] CG2011; Tortricidae: Cochylis hospes (Banded Sunflower Moth) [larvae feed on florets & developing seeds, syn. Phtheochroa hospes] CG2011, Suleima helianthana (Sunflower Bud Moth) [larvae feed in leaf axils, flower buds, & receptacles of flowerheads] CG2011
Orthoptera (Grasshoppers)
Acrididae: Hesperotettix speciosus (Western Grass-Green Grasshopper) [this grasshopper is found on sandy hills & in weedy areas; a preferred host plant] VK1985 BHW2008 Jor1985, Hesperotettix viridis (Meadow Purple-striped Grasshopper) Jor1985, Melanoplus differentialis (Differential Grasshopper) [this grasshopper is found in weedy areas, roadsides, abandoned fields, field edges, & gardens] Wy1994 BHW2008 Jor1985, Melanoplus femurrubrum (Red-legged Grasshopper) Jor1985, Melanoplus keeleri (Keeler's Grasshopper) [this grasshopper is found in prairies & weedy areas] Wy1994 BHW2008; Romaleidae: Brachystola magna (Plains Lubber Grasshopper) [this grasshopper is found in shortgrass & mixed-grass prairie to the west of Illinois] BHW2008