List of Lepidoptera that feed on Helianthus
Helianthus species are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species including:
Monophagous
Species which feed exclusively on Helianthus
- Bucculatricidae
- Bucculatrix leaf-miners:
- B. fusicola
- B. ilecebrosa
- B. longula - only on Sunflower (H. annuus)
- B. needhami
- B. simulans - only on Sunflower (H. annuus)
- Bucculatrix leaf-miners:
- Noctuidae
- Schinia avemensis - only on Prairie Sunflower (H. petiolaris)
Polyphagous
Species which feed on Helianthus and other plants
- Arctiidae
- Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia)
- Hypercompe albicornis
- Coleophoridae
- Geometridae
- Juniper Pug (Eupithecia pusillata)
- Hepialidae
- Common Swift (Korscheltellus lupulina)
- Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli)
- Noctuidae
- Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)
- Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)
- Grey Chi (Antitype chi)
- Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)
- Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)
- Nymphalidae
- Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Pyralidae
- Banded Sunflower Moth (Cochylis hospes)
- Tortricidae
- Sunflower Bud Moth (Cochylis hospes)
- Sunflower Moth (Homoeosoma nebulella)