Damage to Cultivated Sunflower by Contarinia schulzi1

Within-Field Distribution of the Sunflower Midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

“…Overwintering larvae pupate in early spring, and adult emergence in late June and July is dependent on temperature and soil moisture (Samuelson 1976). Females have long ovipositors and insert individual eggs between sunßower bracts (Schulz 1973) usually in the R2-R4 stages (mid to late bud stages) (Schneiter and Miller 1981), but may deposit eggs on other tissues and during other plant stages (Hodgson 2001). Eggs hatch in 2Ð5 d, and larvae move to the bases of the bracts or between the ßoral tissues of the receptacle to begin feeding.…”

Screening Sunflower for Tolerance to Sunflower Midge Using the Synthetic Auxin 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid

“…Helianthus annuus L. A sunflower field with a high infestation of the sunflower midge may have sufficient damage to reduce yield (Schulz 1973). Sunflower midge control is difficult because insecticides are not effective (McMullen 1985) and breeding for resistance has been impeded by inadequate naturally occurring, insect populations for screening.…”

A damage index for estimating yield loss in sunflowers caused by sunflower midge

“…The sunflower midge, Contarinia schultzi Gagne, first reported to damage cultivated sunflowers by Schulz (1973), has become a sporadic but significant pest of commercial sunflowers in the Red River Valley (Kopp 1983). Adults oviposit into sunflower buds in early to mid-July and the larvae feed on bracts and tissue at the base of developing florets (Anderson 1989).…”