Which sunflower pest is described as headclipping weevils?

Which sunflower pest is described as headclipping weevils?

• A. Cutworms
• B. Sunflower headmoths
• C. Headclipping weevils
• D. Woollybears

Answer: (C)

Head clipping of sunflower heads is caused by weevils that chew around the head, removing parts of the developing flower and kernels. This specific damage pattern is what gives them their name—headclipping weevils—and it’s a clue that points to them as the responsible pest. Others listed affect different parts or stages: cutworms damage stems at the base, not the head; sunflower headmoths attack and feed inside the head, causing internal damage and holes; woollybears typically feed on leaves and buds rather than clipping the head itself. Because the question describes the pest by the damage pattern it causes, the correct option is the headclipping weevils.

Head clipping of sunflower heads is caused by weevils that chew around the head, removing parts of the developing flower and kernels. This specific damage pattern is what gives them their name—headclipping weevils—and it’s a clue that points to them as the responsible pest. Others listed affect different parts or stages: cutworms damage stems at the base, not the head; sunflower headmoths attack and feed inside the head, causing internal damage and holes; woollybears typically feed on leaves and buds rather than clipping the head itself. Because the question describes the pest by the damage pattern it causes, the correct option is the headclipping weevils.