wireworm

Wireworm is the common name for the larval stage of click beetles (family Elateridae). Wireworms are slender, hard-bodied larvae that live in soil and feed on plant roots, seeds, and tubers. They are typically pale yellow to orange-brown and can reach several centimeters in length, giving them a distinctive wire-like appearance.

Adult beetles lay eggs in soil, often near crops. The larval stage can last two to five years, during which they move through the soil feeding on germinating seeds, young roots, and tubers. They pupate in the soil and emerge as adults the following season. Adults are slender beetles capable of the characteristic “click” used to right themselves.

Wireworms are polyphagous pests that damage many crops, including potatoes, carrots, sugar beets, corn, cereals, and young transplants. Damage ranges from feeding on roots to boring into underground storage organs, leading to stunted growth, wilting, and yield losses. Tubers and roots may have tunnels or holes that reduce marketability.

Management relies on integrated pest management. Crop rotation with non-host crops, tillage to disrupt larvae, and careful irrigation can reduce populations. Biological controls, including entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi, provide suppression in some settings. Chemical controls are used where appropriate but are limited by effectiveness and environmental concerns; timing is critical.

Wireworms occur worldwide and are most problematic in temperate regions, with economic impact depending on species, crop, and management chosen.