Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) were the most frequent insect visitors to flowering sunflower heads on the central Darling Downs. Populations in 42 crops during mid-morning in fine weather averaged 65.3 bees per 100 flowering heads. A range of moth species was observed at night but total moth populations in 33 crops between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. averaged only 3.9 moths per 100 flowering heads. Although Heliothis armigera moths and wind can pollinate sunflowers, insects other than honeybees, and wind, played an insignificant role in crop pollination.
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