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. illecebrosa B. longula - only on sunflower (H. annuus) B. needhami B. simulans - only on sunflower (H. annuus) 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 Coleophora vernoniaeella 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) Tortricidae Banded sunflower moth (Cochylis hospes) Sunflower bud moth (Suleima helianthana) Sunflower moth (Homoeosoma nebulella) External links Helianthus +Lepidoptera