In This Section

Cereals: Wireworms (Limonius spp. and others)

Author: OMAFRA Staff
Creation Date: 04 July 2005
Last Reviewed: 28 July 2007
Pub 812: Field Crop Protection Guide > Chapter 5: Cereals > Wireworms

Excerpt from Chapter 5, Field Crop Protection Guide, Order this publication

Table of Contents

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

| Top of Page |

Integrated Pest Management Options

Seed Treatment

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

thiamethoxam – Cruiser 5 FS
Active ingredient thiamethoxam
Trade name Cruiser 5 FS
Rate (product) 33-50 mL per 100 kg seed

Comments
For wheat and barley. For use in commercial seed treaters only. Use higher rate in fields with history of high infestations of larvae. Refer to label for resistance management strategies.

| Top of Page |


Related links...

| Top of Page |

For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca