Ecology and control of the sunflower moth, Homoesoma electellum (Hulst), in Texas

Abstract

The ecology and control of the sunflower moth, Homoeosoma electellum (Hulst), was studied at College Station and McGregor, Texas, during 1967-1969. The species exhibited 2 population peaks during the growing season. Larval, populations on heads of Indian blanket, Gaillardia pulchella (Foug.), reached a peak May 2, when about 60% of the heads were infested. Wild and cultivated sunflowers served as hosts for larvae of the next generation. Population numbers were extremely high during June and July, but had declined by August and then remained low throughout the remainder of the year. The following 11 plant species were found to serve as hosts of sunflower moth larvae: Gaillardia pulchella (Foug.), G. aestivalis (Walt), Ximenesia encelioides Cav., Coreopsis basalis (Otto and Dietr.), C. qrandiflora Hogg, Enqelmannia pinnatifida Gray, Cassia roemeriana Scheele, Helianthus debilis T. & G., H. annuus L., H. petiolaris Nutt., and H. maximiliani Schrad. ...