Department of Enomology, College of Agriculture, J.N. Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Adhartal, Jabalpur-482 004, Madhya Pradesh (India).
During August-September 1996, the sunflower crop at Adhartal farm, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (India) was damaged by the girdle beetle, Obereopsis brevis (Swed.), hitherto known as the key pest of soybean. The pest damaged around 60 per cent sunflower plants, whereas only 2.0 per cent infestation was observed in the adjacent fields of main host soybean. This is not only the first record of girdle beetle as a pest of sunflower in India but also provides an example of changing its host preference and pest status.
