Damage of Sunflower by the Southern Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Abstract
Spodoptera eridania (Cramer) occurred in economic infestations in ca. 50% of the 567 ha of sunflower planted in Alachua County, Florida in the fall of 1982. Outbreaks occurred in sunflower having dense stands of pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), a primary host. After consuming pigweed, the southern armyworm larvae moved en masse to the sunflower. Differences in seed yields from sunflower heads harvested from plants with 0, 50, and 100% defoliation caused by larval feeding were highly significant. Seed yields from plants showing 50 and 100% defoliation were reduced 45 and 98%, respectively, compared to plants showing little or no defoliation. The impact of native parasites on S. eridania populations in sunflower was negligible. Parasites recovered included Opion sp., Chelonus insularis Cresson, Meteorus autographae Muesebeck, and tachinids.Downloads
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