The winter moth is one of the most dangerous pests of sunflowers in Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The larvae of the moth actively feed on the leaves, stems and baskets of sunflowers, which leads to a decrease in photosynthesis, weakening of plants and a significant reduction in yield.
The winter moth causes damage at all stages of plant development, but poses the greatest danger in the early stages of growth, when damage to leaves and stems can delay crop development or even lead to the death of seedlings. During the basket formation phase, the larvae eat the seeds, which directly affects the yield and quality of the seeds for processing.
Winter moth butterflies are mainly active at dusk and at night, hiding under weed leaves or in other shelters during the day. They need additional nutrition from the nectar of flowering plants for their development. Females lay eggs singly or in small groups on the underside of leaves and petioles of weeds, on dry plant debris, or on light, well-tilled soil with sparse vegetation. The number of eggs laid by a single female varies from 470 to 2,200, depending on the feeding conditions of the caterpillars and moths.
Factors contributing to the spread of the winter moth:
- residues of previous crops in the field, where the larvae overwinter in the soil;
- late sowing of sunflowers, coinciding with the active feeding phase of the pest;
- insufficient use of integrated plant protection measures.
Farmers use comprehensive methods to effectively control winter moths on sunflowers:
- seed treatment with insecticides (such as Lumishur from Corteva in the Premium Seed Eurosem technological solution);
- timely application of contact and systemic insecticides during mass feeding;
- adherence to crop rotation and mechanical removal of plant residues;
- use of pest-resistant sunflower hybrids from Eurosem.
Early diagnosis of moth damage and timely application of protective measures allows you to preserve the yield potential of sunflowers and ensure stable profits. Regular field monitoring and an integrated approach to pest control are key to minimising damage from winter moths.
By choosing modern sunflower hybrids and following agronomic recommendations, farmers can significantly reduce crop losses from winter moths and obtain a stable, high-quality harvest.