Wireworms
Wireworm larvae are slender, cylindrical insects. They are usually yellowish and resemble mealworms.
They have six short legs close together near the head. Adults are click beetles; they do not weaken older
plants.
Life cycle
Damage
Wireworm larvae injure sprouting seeds and seedlings by feeding on roots or shoots. They also bore into
stems and other plant structures such as potato tubers. Damage is most common where soil has a high organic
content.
Solutions
Prior to planting, flooding an area can help reduce populations.
Reduce levels of organic matter. Carrots are especially
attractive to wireworms. Plant a nearly fully grown carrot
in the soil every 2.5 to 3 feet
throughout the garden. Every 2 to 3 days pull up the carrots,
remove the wireworms, and replace the carrots in the soil
to trap more wireworms.
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Sugarbeet
wireworm larvae
Tunnel
in potato tuber caused by wireworm
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