Wireworms are not single but, they're the composite of many species in the family Elateridae and mostly the larvae of voluminous species of click beetles. The species count remains over 9000 worldwide, and only North America hosts around 1000 of them. Wireworms are cosmopolitan pests and famous for the distinctive feature of producing a violent click sound that leaps the beetles in the air. Wireworms species make a round hole in the tubers and seeds of potatoes, sweet potato, onion, corn, carrot, and watermelon in home gardens throughout North America. Three species that are most prevalent on garden plants include Pacific Coast wireworm (Limonius canus), Dryland wireworm (Ctenicera pruinina), and Sugar beet wireworm (Limonius californicus). However, the Pacific Coast wireworms are the most devastating species in home gardens.
The most known species exist since the Triassic Era. The North American wireworms' ancestry matches the species prevalent in Europe, Eurasia, Russia, and Sub-Saharan Africa including, India and the Middle East. The wireworms are now a widespread pest across 10 most northerly states whereas, they're occasionally found in other areas of the US. Their occurrence varies from species to species in different climatic regions. The Pacific Coast and Sugar beet wireworms are prevalent in North American territories whereas, Southern regions mostly host Dryland wireworms. Their garden invasion is not usual But, occasional on potatoes, sugar beet, and other tuberous plants throughout the US.
Wireworms range between 1/4th of an inch to roughly over an inch. Wireworms' color varies from brown to black. Larval species are white or brownish with smooth and wire-like bodies. Their heads and tails are yellowish-brown. Adult wireworms or the click beetles have elongated and slender bodies and are habitual to flip into the air. The dorsal view presents two backward incrusted spines on a segment behind the head that projects around the front wings. Most species offer differentiation due to the embellishment present on the last segment of their bodies. Adult wireworms also make a clicking sound when they right themselves after being overturned. Their body area adjoining thorax and abdomen is flexible and, when they're disturbed, could push the abdomen against the ground to flip over many inches in the air. The Pacific Coast and Sugar beet wireworms are common in irrigated or rain-fed areas whereas, Dryland wireworms are common in areas with low annual precipitation. i.e., 15 inches approximately.
Female wireworms lay eggs near the roots of the plants. Adults survive in the soil for up to a year. Their larval stages are quite long, and it may take between 2 to 6 years to complete the entire process. Meanwhile, they keep feeding in the soil on the best available stuff like tubers and seeds and the developed underground rhizomes of the targeted plants. The egg-laying period varies in different species that could take from a few days to several weeks. The larvae pupate in soil in underground chambers during fall or late summer. The adults remain there waiting for the spring to arrive. The infested soils may contain larvae of all ages and sizes, and there may be several generations overlapping each other.
Since the larval stages continue for an extended period, the damage often comes from those stages where they're wormlike and resemble mealworms. The movement of wireworms in the soil remains both down and upward wherever the moisture persists. They dig many shallow or deep holes in roots vegetables, including potatoes, onions, sugar beet, carrots, and radishes, since they solemnly feed on the underground parts of the plants. Their boreholes remain perpendicular or diagonal on the movement of wireworms. These holes are 0.5 to 1.0 inches on the underground tubers and plant parts. They often damage more in organic matter-rich soils as they feed on them.
Wireworms larvae pupate in the soil from autumn through spring. Wireworms monitoring is often hard since they feed underground, and only the tubers' harvest tells the extent of their damages. Moreover, most species of wireworms are nocturnal and feed on the decayed organic matter besides tunneling the tubers in a garden.
Besides following all preventions and cultural control practices if Wireworms damage remains prevalent on your tuberous plants, here are the most proven ways to suppress their population using the biological, organic, and chemical methodologies;
Unfortunately, Steinernema Feltiae is the only biological control that keeps the wireworms' population well checked if applied when the infestation begins to build. Steinernema feltiae are soil-dwelling entomopathogenic nematodes that search their hosts in the soil and enter their bodies. They mature in a week after crossing four juvenile stages, whereas their first stage can only infect a host. Once, they enter the body of the targeted pests, secrete Xenorhabdus nematophilus. This is a bacterium that multiplies on the host and kills them effectively. Biologics offers Steinernema Feltiae nematodes in a moisture-rich container that reaches alive and ready to apply on the garden beds.
BioLogic's Scanmask Steinernema Feltiae (Sf) Beneficial Nematodes for Natural Insect Pest Control, 5 Million Size
Please remember, these nematodes are not applied to the foliage in case the wireworms are a target. You can mix the entire contents of the pack in 5 to 6 gallons of water and apply them as a drench using a watering can. Extra watering could take them to more targeted areas to hit wireworms.
EcoSmart Granules derives from botanical sources and contains 2% Clove oil and 0.6% Thyme Oil. These granules are good at killing many insects, including whiteflies, fleas, mites, mealybugs, and wireworms on all edible plants that often growers plant in organic gardening. Granules are also safe for the pets and birds around, and there are no residual effects as well. These granules disrupt the molting process in wireworms, and their ingestion dehydrates them which results in the killing.
EcoSMART 33134 Insect Killer Granules Bag, 1 Pack(10 Lbs), brown
The 10-pound pack serves about 5000 square feet of garden area.
SNS-203 Pesticide Concentrate is another natural product drenched in the garden soil if wireworms persist on tuberous vegetables, especially potatoes, carrots, and sugar beet. SNS-203 concentrate contains the ingredients like clove and rosemary oils besides containing Polyglyceryl Oleate and Lauric acid. All ingredients derive from botanical sources and decompose quickly in the environment without leaving any harmful effects on pollinators, pets, and edible parts of the plants. Overall, the combination of four different ingredients makes it an ideal product for killing wireworms through multiple modes of action. The wireworms stop feeding, delay molting, and dehydrate internally which leads to their death.
Sierra Natural Science - SNS-203 Pesticide Concentrate - 1 Gallon
Add 4 to 6 ounces of the concentrate per gallon of water and apply with a watering can.
It contains 70% Clarified Hydrophobic Extracts of Neem oil. Neem oil contains Azadirachtin which, possesses multiple modes of action when used in organic gardening to control the pests of economic importance. This extract can provide a season-long control over wireworms besides suppressing their population and keeping them below economic injury if repeated applications are made. The wireworms or other pests that can't show resistance against the extract are insecticide, fungicide, acaricide, IGR, and antifeedant at one place. This product is also OMRI listed and complies with the National Organic Program in the US. Neem oil disintegrates when exposed to harsh climatic conditions and leaves no harmful residues in the environment.
Monterey 70% Neem Oil - Organic Gardening Fungicide, Insecticide, Miticide - Kills Eggs, Larvae, and Adult Insects - 1 Pint - Apply Using a Sprayer
Add one ounce of the product concentrate per gallon of water and apply as a drench using a watering can in the garden beds.
It contains 1% Pyrethrins which derives from Chrysanthemum flowers, other ingredient is 10% Piperonyl Butoxide which is an inorganic substance. This product is not on the OMRI list and may be used as the last resort to kill wireworms. However, most Pyrethrins formulations are allowed in organic gardening and comply with National Organic Program.
Pyrethrin Bonide Garden Insect Spray Concentrate 16 oz
Add an ounce of the product concentrate per gallon of water and apply it to the garden soil using a watering can.
Check out our other guides on common garden bugs.
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