Integrated Pest Management of Wireworms in Agricultural Systems

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of wireworms addresses the challenge posed by soil-dwelling larvae of click beetles (Agriotes spp.) to a variety of arable crops, notably maize, potatoes and cereals. This approach combines ecological, cultural, biological and, where necessary, chemical tactics to suppress wireworm populations below economic thresholds while minimising environmental impact. Core components include systematic monitoring of adult and larval stages, risk mapping of field history and soil conditions, and predictive modelling to inform timing of interventions. Cultural practices such as crop rotation, adjusted sowing dates and soil tillage disrupt the pest’s life cycle or reduce habitat suitability. Biological control agents, including entomopathogenic fungi and predatory nematodes, offer curative options with low non-target risk. Decision support systems harness field data and statistical or mechanistic models to forecast infestation risk and guide threshold-based treatments. Ultimately, IPM for wireworms seeks to integrate these elements into locally adapted programmes, balancing yield security with sustainability and regulatory constraints on pesticide use.

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Integrated Pest Management of Wireworms in Agricultural Systems publication trend

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Technical terms

Wireworm (Agriotes spp.): Soil-dwelling larvae of click beetles that feed on crop roots and seeds, causing yield losses in various arable crops.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A holistic framework combining biological, cultural, mechanical and chemical tactics to manage pests sustainably.

Decision Support System (DSS): Software tools that integrate field data and models to forecast pest risk and inform timely management decisions.

Prophylactic practice: Preventative agronomic or cultural measure applied before pest populations reach damaging levels (e.g., crop rotation, tillage).

Curative method: Targeted action taken once infestation risk or pest densities exceed threshold levels, often involving biological control agents or selective pesticides.

References

1. A decision support system based on Bayesian modelling for pest management: Application to wireworm risk assessment in maize fields. Smart Agricultural Technology (2023).
2. An update of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) on systemic pesticides. Part 4: Alternatives in major cropping systems. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2020).
3. Alternative Strategies for Controlling Wireworms in Field Crops: A Review. Agriculture (2021).