Sunflowers with possibly 2 diff pests

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DebinSC Georgetown, SC(Zone 8a) Jun 16, 2014

This is the first time I've grown sunflowers and they've just started to bloom, then...trouble.
I've researched various bugs that bother sunflowers and I'm still not certain what's eating mine. I sprayed them with insecticidal soap last night but I'm not sure if that will do the trick.

The photos show these white globular egg things on the buds (not on stems or leaves), the damage I'm seeing on the leaves and flower petals, and little critters I keep seeing that might be Stem Weevils?

Would appreciate help on the ID and I would really like to know if I can treat this with organic pesticides or if I'll have to go chemical.

Thanks!
Deb

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) Jun 18, 2014

Well, I agree that something is big enough to take some serious bites out of the leaves and petals. Not sure what it is, though.
Can you take the 'egg mass' (or whatever it is) and the bug off the plant and photograph it on a neutral surface? Get a couple of angles on the bug.

You can try going out in the evening with a flashlight. Many pests hide during the day and come out when it is cooler, and they are at least somewhat hidden from predators.

Another thing to try is this:
Loosely roll a sheet of newspaper and leave it near the plant, on the ground. Bugs that like to hide in the dirt through the day may crawl into the newspaper to hide. Pick it up after about 24 hours, during the daylight hours. Open it into a white 5 gallon bucket. Most bugs that hide like this cannot fly, but some can jump.
If you catch a lot, then why not put out several rolls each day and pick them up in the middle of the next day. Throw the papers away, bugs and all, or shake out the bugs and set out the papers to catch more.

Post #9871326
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kittriana Magnolia, TX(Zone 9a) Jun 19, 2014

They draw stink bugs to them- as well as deer and rabbits- but there are like 8? instars of stinkbug that do not look anything like the previous stages until they resemble the shield bug you know so well, just saying...

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