Wireworms

Common Name: Wireworms, Click Beetle

Genus: Melanotus fissilis, Limonius spp. Many species in the order Coleoptera, family Elatoridae.

Identification: see lifecycle

Lifecycle: The winter is passed in the ground in the larvae or adult stage. Adults emerge in early spring. They are "hard shelled," dark-colored beetles. The females burrow into the soil and lay eggs on the roots. The adult lives 10 to 12 months. The larvae hatching from these eggs spend from 2 to 6 years in the soil feeding on the roots. The larvae change to naked, soft pupa and in a few weeks to the adult. The adult remains in the soil until the following spring.

Geographic Distribution: Throughout North America.

Damage and Treatment: Crops that are attacked by wireworms often fail to germinate since the insect eats the germ of the seed. In other cases the crop may germinate well but a later attack will reduce stand and lower plant vigor. Bulbs and tubers are tunneled and scarred, making a large part of the crop unmarketable. Planting crops into sod ground should be avoided. Treatment should be made when insect populations and/or damage levels reach economic thresholds. Refer to local University Extension Pest Management Guidelines for specific state thresholds.

Corn

Corn - Seed

Corn - Sweet

Potatoes

Amaranthes Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus spinosus

Aphids Therioaphis maculata, Dysphis plantaginea, Acyrthosiphon kondoi, Acyrthosiphon kondoi, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aphis gossypi

Armyworm, Beet Spodoptera

Armyworms

Barnyardgrass Echinochloa

Billbugs

Black Cutworm

Black Nightshade

Cabbage Looper Trichoplusia

Chinch Bug

Colorado Potato Beetle Leptinotarsa

Common Cocklebur Xanthium

Corn Earworm

Corn Rootworm

Cutworms Agrotis ipsilon, Agrotis orthogonia, Peridroma saucia

Eastern Nightshade Solanum americanum, Solanum nigrum, Solanum ptycanthum, Solanum saccachoides

European Corn Borer Ostrinia

Fall Armyworm Spodoptera

Grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes, Camnula pellacida

Kochia Kochia

Lambsquarters Chenopodium

Nightshades Solanum americanum, Solanum nigrum, Solanum ptycanthum, Solanum saccachoides

Northern Corn Rootworm Diabrotica longicornus barberi, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera

Pennsylvania Smartweed Polygonum

Pigweed, Redroot Amaranthus

Prickly Sida Sida

Ragweeds Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida

Seedcorn Beetle

Seedcorn Maggot

Sod Webworm

Southern Corn Leaf Beetle

Southern Corn Rootworm Diabrotica

Southwestern Corn Borer Diatrea

Spider Mites Tetranychus urticae, Tetranychus turkestani, Tetranychus pacificus, Tetranychus cinnabarinus

Spotted Cucumber Beetle Diabrotica

Stalk Borer

Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus

Thrips

Tobacco Budworm Helicoverpa

Velvetleaf Abutilon

Waterhemp

Western Corn Rootworm Diabrotica longicornus barberi, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera

White Grub

Wild Sunflower Helianthus

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