Management of Insect and Mite Pests in Sunflowers

Unmanaged sunflower pests can reduce yield and quality of seed and oil. Pesticides should not be used as a substitute for good agronomic practices or as “preventative insurance” because this approach can cause pest resurgence issues and is rarely economically or environmentally justifiable. Many sunflower pest problems can be avoided by developing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan that includes preventive pest management practices, such as planting high-quality, vigorous, Oklahoma-proven hybrid seed, planting it at the proper time for optimal health and yield, providing proper fertilization and weed control, and using crop rotations.

 

The information herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied. 

 

Pesticide recommendations in this publication were correct as of the “Modified Date" but always check the label that came with the purchased insecticide for the most current rates and restrictions.

 

The first name listed is the trade name of a product registered for use in corn for the listed pest. The name in (parentheses) listed below the trade name is the name of the active ingredient. The active ingredient name is provided because in many cases, there are other registered products containing the same active ingredient that may cost less, so producers should compare prices. 

 

The number [in brackets] following a product is its Mode of Action number [MOA]. The more frequently insecticides with the same MOA are used, the more likely resistance will occur. This number provides an easy way to select different modes of action to avoid selecting for pests that are resistant to a certain mode of action. 

 

Refer to the following publications for additional information on sunflower pest management.

 

• EPP-7196 Grasshopper Management in Rangeland, Pastures and Crops (OSU)
• MF-2384 High Plains Sunflower Production Handbook (Kansas State)

 

Table 1.

Table 2.

 * MOA group numbers in brackets [#] following the insecticide name are used to designate the mode of action of the insecticide according to the classification system developed by the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) in 2011 It is intended to help in the selection of insecticides for preventative resistance management. If you make multiple applications for a specific pest during a growing season, simply select a registered insecticide with a different number for each application. To further delay resistance from developing, integrate other control methods into your pest management programs. 

 

** The first name listed is a commercial trade name of a product. The chemical name in parentheses refers to the name of the active ingredient and is included because there are a number of registered products that are contain the same active ingredient. Such products may be less expensive to purchase, so producers should compare prices.