WIREWORMS -
occur in most of the world, and are the larvae of click
beetles, family Elateridae. They are up to one and
a half inches long, yellowish-brown with a hard, shiny,
jointed exterior. Unlike MILLIPEDES,
with which they are often confused, they do not curl
up when disturbed, or have a large number of legs.
They attack many different plants, tunnelling into
large seeds, roots, stems, bulbs and
tubers, and are often most numerous in new areas dug
out of grass. Larvae may spend several years feeding
under the soil surface before pupating and emerging
as adult beetles. Preparing new planting beds in Fall
and re-digging several times at intervals may help
to reduce wireworm numbers by the time Spring planting
time arrives. Try burying cut pieces of potato as traps,
inspecting every few days. Wireworms are also controlled
by predatory nematodes. |
