Written collaboratively by Adam Varenhorst, Patrick Wagner, Philip Rozeboom, Bradley McManus, Govinda Shrestham, Patrick Beauzay and Janet Knodel.
In the Dakotas, the red sunflower seed weevil, Smicronyx fulvus (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the most damaging insect pest of commercial sunflowers (Cluever et al. 2025). The adoption and implementation of alternative pest management strategies are necessary for effective management of red sunflower seed weevils.
Factsheet on the lifecycle, identification, scouting and management of Gray Sunflower Seed Weevils.
During 2026, we will be producing a new weekly update on sunflower insect pest activity. This information will be attained via a sampling network of eight locations that are in central South Dakota.
Red sunflower seed weevil adults have been detected in South Dakota. Current recommendations for management in both confection and oilseed sunflower is to begin treatment when the majority of the field has reached the R5.4 growth stage, but applications done between R5.1 and R5.4 can still provide yield protection.