The National Sunflower Association is reminding sunflower growers that it’s time to start scouting for banded sunflower moth (BSM) and Arthuri sunflower moth (ASM).
BSM is a small (1⁄4 inch long), straw yellow moth with a triangular, dark brown band crossing through the middle of the forewing. ASM is
similar to BSM in size but, it is a whitish-gray moth with a broken brown and gray band on the forewings. When sampling, use the W pattern and begin counting at least 75 to 100 feet into the field to avoid field margin effects. Count moths on 20 plants at 5 sampling sites to obtain the total number of moths per 100 plants.
When scouting during the day (late morning to early afternoon), the moths remain quiet, resting on upper or lower leaves of sunflower plants or other neighboring broadleaf plants like soybeans. Look for the moth fluttering from plant to plant when disturbed.
For more information, visit www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/crops/banded-sunflower-moth.
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