Agents of pollination in sunflower crops on the central Darling Downs, Queensland

Abstract

Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) were the most frequent insect visitors to flowering sunflower heads on the central Darling Downs. Populations in 42 crops during mid-morning in fine weather averaged 65.3 bees per 100 flowering heads. A range of moth species was observed at night but total moth populations in 33 crops between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. averaged only 3.9 moths per 100 flowering heads. Although Heliothis armigera moths and wind can pollinate sunflowers, insects other than honeybees, and wind, played an insignificant role in crop pollination.