Damage caused by the weevil Listroderes foveatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in sunflower crops in southeastern Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Sunflowers are attacked by insect pests at various stages of crop development. Among them there is a complex of species of Coleoptera order, genus Listroderes Schoenherr, commonly known as “sunflower weevils”. The adults affect the crop at the early stages of its development. During 2019-2020 growing season, adult of Listroderes foveatus (Lea) species caused significant losses in the sunflower plant stand, in several sunflower plots of the southeastern region of Buenos Aires province. Damage at basal level of the plant stem was registered. Depending on the vegetative development stage, they caused their cut or strangulation, followed by overturning and subsequent death. The magnitude of the damage caused was reflected in the need for total or partial resowing in several sunflower plots.