Meadow Moth in Sunflower
The meadow moth adult is a light brown moth with white-yellow lines and spots on its wings. Its body length is 10-12 mm, and its wingspan is 19-26 mm. At rest, the tip of the abdomen remains under the wings in females, while it is clearly visible in males.
The oval-shaped and shiny egg is first transparent and colorless, then turns orange-yellow, and gray near the emergence of the larva. Eggs are 0.8–1.0 mm long and are laid in groups of 2–20.
The pest has 5 larval stages. The first stage larval length is 1.5–2.5 mm, and in the last stage, it is 18–25 mm. The mature larva is green, close to black, and has light and dark colored lines extending along its back and sides.
The pupa is 8-13 mm long and 3-4 mm wide. It is found in the soil inside a cylindrical cocoon woven with silk. It spends the winter as a mature larva inside the pupal cocoon at a depth of 5-7 cm in the soil. It becomes a pupa as spring approaches.
The pupal period is 14-18 days, of which the first 4-5 days are the prepupal period. The first adults begin to fly in mid-April. They are active at night and inactive during the day. Females feeding on pollen and nectar live for about two weeks, and one female lays 60-400 eggs. Eggs are laid especially on the underside of lamb's quarters (Chenopodium spp.) and other weed leaves. Eggs hatch in 2-10 days (usually 4-6 days later). The larva emerging from the egg begins to feed on plants. After molting 1-2 times, the larva moves to the crop, where it feeds voraciously, leaving only the veins of the leaves. In places where the population is high, all green parts are damaged. The maturing larva descends into the soil to spend the pupal period. Depending on food and climate conditions, the larval period lasts 14-22 days. It gives 2–5 generations per year.
Damage Pattern, Economic Importance, and Distribution of the Meadow Moth
Larvae, which eat the leaves, buds, and flower petals of plants, can leave plants completely leafless during outbreak years. The pest has been identified in the Marmara, Aegean, and Black Sea Regions.
Hosts of Meadow Moth in Sunflower
It is a polyphagous pest, being a host to more than 150 plant species belonging to 40 families.
Control of Meadow Moth in Sunflower
Cultural Measures
Cultural measures are very important in the control of this pest. With these measures, the meadow moth has ceased to be a significant problem even in countries where it causes more frequent and larger issues. These measures are; – Fields should be plowed deep in the autumn. Thus, some of the pupal cocoons fall deep and the moth cannot emerge to the soil surface. Some cocoons remain on the soil surface and become food for birds or are affected by winter colds. – Weed control should be carried out in the spring. Thus, eggs and larvae laid on weeds are destroyed. Continuing weed control in crops will provide the same benefit. – Early mowing of forage crops such as alfalfa, crimson clover, and white clover is also an important method in terms of breaking the population.
Chemical Control
Spraying time: Control should be started when 3-5 larvae are detected on a plant or 20 larvae per square meter. Control should be carried out against third-stage larvae at the latest. Success is difficult in the fourth and fifth stages.
Plant protection products and doses to be used: Plant protection products and doses recommended in the “Plant Protection Products” book published by the Ministry are used.
Equipment and machinery to be used: Hydraulic field sprayer, backpack sprayer (mechanical, automatic, motorized), or backpack atomizer is used in spraying.
Spraying technique: Spraying should be done in the morning or evening hours, in windless weather. Care should be taken to apply the pesticides in a way that covers the undersides of the leaves.
