An agroecological approach to sunflower moth control

Abstract

Abstract Context: Sunflower is the fourth source of vegetable oil in the world. The sunflower moth is its main pest in America. The control of this species is extremely difficult and, generally, the solutions proposed for its control involve the use of insecticides. Objective: To formulate an ecologically sustainable strategy for the control of the sunflower moth. Methods: The insect-host interaction and the damage caused were characterized. The best biological control agents were selected in terms of efficacy. Results: None of the tested cultivars was resistant to Homoeosoma electellum. The perfect timing to protect the sunflower against H. electellum might be estimated between 65 % of the life cycle of the cultivars until reaching the physiological maturity and 84 % until reaching the same phenological state. The application of entomopathogenic bio-preparations significantly reduces the affectation. Conclusions: Treatment with entomopathogenic bio-preparations during the delimited critical interval allows controlling the damage caused to sunflower.

Keywords

• biological control
• entomopathogen
• helianthus annuus
• homoeosoma electellum