Owing to its great flexibility, the sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) crop is quickly spreading throughout the Indian subcontinent to various agroecological niches and cropping systems. Pests are by far the most common biological limitation on sunflower output. The sunflower environment is home to a wide range of useful and dangerous bug species. Even though more than fifty insect species have been documented on sunflowers, the main pests of economic concern are capitulum borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner), defoliators (Spilosoma obliqua Walker, Spodoptera litura Fabricius), cutworms (Agrotis spp.), sucking pests, leaf and plant hoppers (Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida, Empoasca spp.), thrips (Thrips palmi), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius). H. armigera is a very polyphagous and destructive insect pest that affects sunflowers with more than 180 host plants, including significant agricultural species like vegetables, cotton, oilseeds, and pulses. This chapter emphasis socioeconomic and ecological aspects of integrated pest management (IPM), as well as information on major pests, their management (bioecology, degree of damage and various integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.
Sunflower, Pests, Life history, Management
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