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Grower, Mark Day, has observed reasonably high numbers of wireworm larvae in two paddocks north of Lockhart, in the Riverina district of New South Wales. The paddocks have only recently been sown; one to canola and the other to wheat. Mark says wireworms have not previously been a pest, and thus far, has not observed any feeding damage.
Wireworms (Family: Elateridae) are the larvae of several species of Australian native beetles, commonly called ‘click’ beetles. The beetles are small- to medium-sized beetles with elongated, flattened bodies that have blunt rounded ends. Larvae grow to 15–40 mm, are soft-bodied, flattened and slow moving grubs. Their body colour ranges from creamy yellow in the most common species to reddish-brown. Their heads are usually dark brown and wedge-shaped. Wireworms are often confused with another group of beetles called false wireworms (Family: Tenebrionidae).
Wireworms attack cereals, oilseeds and grain legumes. It is reported that wireworm problems are often associated with stubble retention and trash from previous crops, which is believed to provide a refuge that favours survival and breeding. Early detection of true and false wireworms is important. Once feeding damage has become obvious it is often too late to implement effective control. Foliar applications can be used for partial control of some species of false wireworms that feed above ground. In paddocks with a history of wireworm problems, cultivation before seeding may reduce pest pressure. Rotations, including continuous cropping or short pasture phases will often limit population increases.
What is PestFacts?
PestFacts south-eastern keeps growers and advisers informed about invertebrate pests and beneficials in broadacre crops and pastures during the winter-cropping season in Victoria and southern New South Wales.
PestFacts south-eastern is run through IPMforGrains: Best Practice Insect Pest Management, a project delivered by the National Pest Information Network (cesar, DPIRD, QDAF, NSW DPI, and SARDI). This project aims to provide grain growers and advisors with information on invertebrate grain pest occurrence and equip industry with the knowledge needed to implement integrated pest management practices. This initiative is a GRDC investment and includes in-kind contributions from all project partner organisations.
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PestFacts is produced on an ʻas-needsʼ basis and relies upon pest observations and field reports from our subscribers. If you have recently observed invertebrate pests (or beneficial species) in broadacre crops, please contact us to report your observations.
Agricultural invertebrate identification
If you are a grower or agronomist in Victoria or NSW working with broadacre crops or pastures, we can assist you with identifying invertebrates found on farms at no cost. Please contact us for identification help.
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With appropriate acknowledgement, cesar grants permission to reproduce information taken directly from PestFacts. To cite PestFacts: “PestFacts south-eastern (<<enter date published>>). cesar pty ltd.”
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