Cereals: Wireworms (Limonius spp. and others)

Excerpt from Chapter 4, Field Crop Protection Guide, Order this publication

Table of Contents

1. Description
2. Integrated Pest Management Options
   • Seed Treatment
• thiamethoxam – Cruiser 5FS
3. Related links...

Description

Wireworms are larvae that are 7-35 mm long, cylindrical, copper-brown-coloured and hardened (Image 1). Adult wireworms are beetles that have the ability to flip themselves upright when placed on their backs, making an audible click as they do, giving them their name "click beetles."

Image 1. Wireworms have long, cylindrical, copper-brown, hardened bodies. They affect many crops, usually when following grassy crops in the rotation.

Integrated Pest Management Options

Seed Treatment

See OMAFRA Publication 811, Agronomy Guide for Field Crops, for sampling methods. 1 wireworm/bait trap warrants control.

Comments (Days to harvest, label precautions, etc.)
For wheat and barley. For use in commercial seed treaters only. Use higher rate in fields with history of high infestations of larvae. See label for resistance management strategies.

Related links...

• Agronomy Guide for Field Crops - Publication 811
  • Cereal: Wireworms
• Insects
• Cereals