Insect
Sunflower Moth
A small moth whose caterpillars feed in sunflower florets and developing seed heads, tunnelling through the developing seeds and leaving webbing and frass.
Symptoms to Look For
- Webbing and frass in the developing seed head
- Seeds hollowed out or destroyed in sectors of the head
- Caterpillars up to 20 mm found tunnelling inside florets
Affected Plants
Sunflower
Organic Solutions
Bacillus thuringiensis spray
Spray Bt onto flower heads at first bloom when young larvae are feeding on floret surfaces before burrowing into the seed head.
Hand removal
Inspect flower heads weekly and remove caterpillars by hand during early infestation.
Prevention
- Plant sunflowers away from the previous year's sunflower location
- Remove crop debris promptly after harvest to eliminate overwintering pupae in seed head material
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.