Insects Feeding on Sunflowers
(Helianthus
spp.)
| Insect Species | ||
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Comments |
| Systena blanda | Pale-Striped Flea Beetle | adults feed on foliage,
larvae feed on roots |
| Zygogramma exclamationis | Sunflower Leaf Beetle | larvae feed on foliage |
| Cylindrocopturus adspersus | Sunflower Stem Weevil | larvae feed on pith in stalks |
| Haplorhynchites aeneus | Sunflower Head-Clipping Weevil | adults cut stalk near base of flowerhead, which often droops or drops; larvae feed on flowerheads |
| Contarinia schulzi | Sunflower Midge | larvae develop in buds & flowerheads, causing club-shaped distortions |
| Neotephritis finalis | Sunflower Seed Maggot | sawfly larvae develop in seeds |
| Autographa precationis | Common Looper Moth | |
| Cochylis hospes | Banded Sunflower Moth | larvae eat florets & young seeds |
| Ecpantheria scribonia | Giant Leopard Moth | |
| Euplexia benesimilis | American Angle Shades | moth species |
| Grammia arge | Arge Tiger Moth | |
| Homoeosoma electellum | Sunflower Web Moth | larvae eat young seeds & florets, spin webs around flowerheads |
| Ogdoconta cinereola | Common Pinkband | moth species |
| Papaipema necopina | Sunflower Borer Moth | larvae bore through stems |
| Papaipema rigida | Rigid Sunflower Borer Moth | larvae bore through stems |
| Phragmatobia fuliginosa | Ruby Tiger Moth | |
| Platynota flavedana | Variegated Leafroller Moth | larvae roll leaves to create protective shelter |
| Pyrrharctia isabella | Isabella Tiger Moth | |
| Sibine stimulea | Saddleback Caterpillar Moth | |
| Stibadium spumosum | Frothy Moth | larvae bore into seeds |
| Trichotapha flavocostella | Gelechid Moth sp. | |
| Cardui vanessa | Painted Lady | butterfly species |
| Chlosyne gorgone carlota | Gorgone Checkerspot | butterfly species |
| Chlosyne nycteis | Silvery Checkerspot | butterfly species |