Includes Ctenicera 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 (as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin),
- cyfluthrin
- zeta-cypermethrin
Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE
- bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC) at 0.15 to 0.3 lb ai/a at planting or 0.05 to 0.15 lb ai/a at lay-by or 0.033 to 0.1 lb ai/a foliar. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. See label instructions. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/a per year.
- chlorpyrifos (Lorsban Advanced) at 1.88 lb ai/a. PHI 125 days. REI 24 hr. Preplant broadcast, incorporated 4 to 6 inches. One application only. RESTRICTED USE IN OREGON.
- ethoprop (Mocap 15G) at 0.24 to 0.315 lb ai/1,000 row ft (incorporate 2 to 4 inches after treatment). REI 48 hr or 72 hr if rainfall is less than 25 inches.
- phosmet (Imidan) at 1 lb ai/a foliar or plantbed treatment. PHI 7 days. REI 4 days seedbed and 5 days foliar. Do not exceed 4.67 lb ai/a per season.
- thiamethoxam (Platinum) at 0.078 to 0.125 lb ai/a. REI 12 hr. Spray directly on the seed pieces in the furrow. Do not exceed 0.125 lb ai/a per season. See label for recommended application instructions.