Insects: Wireworm

Taxonomy:

Distribution:

• Throughout corn and soybean production areas.

Importance:

• Rarely a pest in Soybeans.

Identification:

• Adults are slender, tan to nearly black, and range from 1/2 to 3/4 inch long.


• Adults make clicking noise when trying to right themselves when turned on their backs.


• Larvae are slender, cream to brown in color, and up to 1-1/4 inches long.


• The larval body is shiny and somewhat hardened.

Adult Wireworm

Larvae Wireworm

Life Cycle:

• Wireworms over winter as larvae or as recently developed adults that remain in the soil until spring.


• Adults emerge in the spring and take flight to find mates.


• After mating, females burrow 2 -- 6 inches into the soil to lay eggs.


• Eggs hatch in 3 to 4 weeks.


• Larvae move through the soil in search of food.


• They can feed in the soil for 2 to 5 years before pupating in July or August.

Host Range:

• Extensive, but will feed on corn and soybean.

Injury & Damage:

• Early wireworm damage consists of hollowed-out seeds where larvae have entered during germination.


• Seedlings can be injured or killed by larvae tunneling into the plant below the soil line.


• Feeding damage to seeds, roots, and underground stems causes stand reductions.


• Infestations can be more severe following sod, cover crops, or fallow.


• Adults to not cause damage

Monitoring:

• Wireworm's populations can be monitored a few weeks before planting using a baiting technique.


• This technique is described in the article found at the following website: http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/cespubs/
  pest/articles/v972d.html

Management:

• Insecticide application at planting would be recommended if problems were anticipated.


• Wireworms cannot be controlled with "rescue" treatments.