Review of 2008 studies on integrated pest management strategies to reduce damage from the Sunflower seed maggot.

Abstract

The sunflower seed maggot, Neotephritis finalis (Loew), is an emerging pest of cultivated sunflower throughout the Great Plains sunflower production region. It is a seed-feeding pest and infests the sunflower plant from late bud stage through the flowering (Arthur and Campbell 1979). There are two complete generations of this insect in North Dakota. Adults of first generation emerge during the first week of July and second generation in the end of the August. During the day, adult maggots occur on sunflower heads either resting or mating and mated females lay their eggs in the developing sunflower heads. Larvae of the second generation fall to the ground overwinter as puparia (Arthur and Campbell 1979). Crop injury is caused by feeding of the larval stages. After hatching, first instar larvae start to feed on developing seeds. The magnitude of damage to sunflower seeds by sunflower seed maggot larvae is largely dependent on the density of larva and stage of crop development. One larva can cause seed sterility by feeding on 10 or 12 young florets Mature larvae feeding on older sunflower heads will destroy one to three seeds. Injury to sunflower can result in a deformed head caused by a creasing and folding toward the center of the head (Arthur and Campbell 1979)