Helianthus Species, Sawtooth Sunflower, Thick-Tooth Sunflower

The most common visitors to the flowers are bees, especially long-tongued species. Among these are honeybees, bumblebees, Epeoline Cuckoo...Read More bees, Eucerine Miner bees, large Leaf-Cutting bees, and others. Other insect visitors include Syrphid flies, bee flies, butterflies, moths, and beetles. The caterpillars of some Checkerspot butterflies (Chlorsyne spp.) feed on the foliage, while Sunflower Borer Moths (Papaipoma spp.) eat the pith of the stems. These and other insects feed on this and other sunflowers (see Insect Table). Many kinds of upland gamebirds, songbirds, and rodents eat the seeds. These animals probably help to distribute the seeds. Beavers and muskrats may use the stems to construct dams or lodges when this plant is near bodies of water. Large mammalian herbivores, such as White-Tailed Deer and cattle, may browse on larger plants, while groundhogs and rabbits are more likely to attack smaller plants.