Limonius spp.
Pest description and crop damage Wireworms are the soil-dwelling larvae of click beetles. Adult click beetles are slender, tan to nearly black, and about 0.37 inch long. Larvae are hard, segmented, 0.37 to 0.5 inch long and dark yellow or brown. They resemble mealworms. Wireworms injure seedlings by feeding on roots, tubers, or bulbs, or boring into stems. Damage is more common in spring planted crops where the soil has a high organic content, such as fields that recently have been in or adjacent to alfalfa, pasture, or uncontrolled weeds. Wireworms do not significantly damage older plants.
Management-biological, cultural, tactical
See:
Management-chemical control: HOME USE
- bifenthrin (often as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin)
- cyfluthrin
- zeta-cypermethrin
Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE
- bifenthrin/avermectin (Athena) at 0.05 to 0.12 lb ai/a at planting. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.056 lb ai/a avermectin or 0.4 lb ai/a bifenthrin per season.
- bifenthrin/IBA (Empower 2) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 9 days. REI 7 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season.
- bifenthrin (Capture LFR) at 0.04 to 0.08 lb ai/a soil application. Do not exceed 0.1 lb ai/a per season as an at plant application.