Eastern false wireworm

Eastern false wireworm are an occasional pest of cereals in southern Australia. The larvae grow up to 50mm in length and are cream, yellow or tan in colour with three pairs of legs just behind the head. Adult beetles are approximately 25mm long and dark grey-black with a distinctive 'pie-dish' shape formed by flanges around the outline of the beetle. There is anecdotal evidence suggesting that stubble retention and minimum tillage are contributing to the build up of false wireworm populations. False wireworms chew into the seedling stem and roots, weakening the plant or ring barking the stem. The injury to the seedlings makes them susceptible to dehydration and infection by disease. Feeding damage is often most severe when germination is slowed by continued dry weather.