Limonius spp.
Pest description and crop damage Wireworms are the soil-dwelling larvae of click beetles. Adult click beetles are slender, and tan to nearly black. Larvae are hard, segmented, and dark yellow or brown. Wireworms injure seedlings by feeding on roots 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.
Management-chemical control
- azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5) at 7 to 16 fl oz/A (0.021 to 0.049 lb ai/A). PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. This botanical pesticide acts slowly. Apply every 7 to 10 days or as needed. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic production.
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