Wireworms

Matthew T. VanWeelden and Ron Cherry

Robert Hochmuth, Dakshina Seal, Norman Leppla, Daniel Fenneman, Rhoda Broughton, and Anil Baniya

This publication describes current methods for managing wireworms in sweet potato. Wireworms, the larvae of click beetles, are the most damaging insect pests of those that infest the foliage and roots. Soil tillage and crop rotation can suppress populations of these root pests but adequate management requires diligent surveillance and the use of insecticides. Describes new research on managing wireworms with alternative insecticide active ingredients and entomopathogenic nematodes.

R. E. Woodruff

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences.

Harsimran K. Gill, Gurminder Chahil, Gaurav Goyal, Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman, and Ronald Cherry

Insects in the family Elateridae are commonly known as click beetles. Their name comes from the clicking sound they make while attempting to right themselves after falling or being placed on their backs. The larvae of click beetles are called wireworms. The corn wireworm is a serious agricultural pest and was added to the EPPO A1 action list of quarantine pests in 2002. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Harsimran K. Gill, Gurminder Chahil, Gaurav Goyal, Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman, and Ronald Cherry, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2014.