Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) pollen as a marker for studies of local movement in Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Insect‐borne pollen can be a useful marker in studies of local and long‐range movement. We investigated the potential of sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) pollen on Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) moths, as a tool for studying movement in this major pest species in the Darling Downs region, south‐eastern Queensland. Laboratory and field‐cage experiments were first conducted to investigate pollen acquisition and retention in moths. Almost all moths given access to sunflower acquired pollen in their proboscis. Pollen was retained in 92–100% of moths after 48 h, but it was retained only in 50% after 96 h under laboratory conditions. Moths that were allowed to feed on sunflower for 48 h in field cages had significantly higher pollen loads than those that were in the cage for 24 h. In mark‐capture studies, the proportion of moths that had pollen, as well as the mean pollen loads of moths, significantly declined with distance from the sunflower crop. Our results suggest that sunflower pollen is a transient marker in the field and may be a reliable marker only of recent (previous one or two nights) local movement of H. armigera moths.