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Agronomist, Katrina Swift (Pro-Ag), has reported observing wireworms in several wheat paddocks south of Forbes, in the Central West Slopes and Plains district of New South Wales. Katrina says the larvae, which have been found in moderate numbers, are feeding on the germinating wheat shoots.
True wireworms (Family: Elateridae) are largely confined to cereals, although they are occasionally reported to feed on canola and some pulse crops. Larvae will typically feed on germinating seed and underground stems of cereals and may also attack the roots of seedlings. This can cause wilting and seedling death. Damage can result in thinning and bare patches within crops, and severe feeding damage may require re-sowing.
The larvae grow between 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. Wireworm problems are often associated with stubble retention and trash from previous crops, which is true of the affected paddocks reported by Katrina.
For further information on wireworms, refer to PestFacts Issue No. 1.
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.
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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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