|
Wireworms
|
|
Two groups of Wireworms (hard bodied and soft
bodied) attack corn seed and occasionally soybean throughout Iowa. They are not
serious pests in terms of annual acreage infested, but they occur often enough
to cause severe stand loss in some fields. The probability of crop damage from
wireworms is low, except where corn follows a grassy situation such as pasture
or CRP ground, or where problems have appeared during the past several years.
Problems can persist in a corn field because wireworms live for two to six
years. Wireworms damage corn in several ways. Early-season damage occurs when
larvae bore into and hollow out the seed before or during germination. Death of
seedling plants also can occur when wireworms tunnel into the seedling stalk.
Some-times wireworms bore into the stalks of larger plants and tunnel several
inches above the soil surface.
|
Hard
Bodied
Soft
Bodied
|
|
Resources
|
|
Wireworms
University of Kentucky, Department of Entomology |
|
Wireworms
The
Ohio State State University Extension |
|
Wireworms
University of Missouri, Department of Entomology |
|
Wireworms
University of Illinois Extension, Integrated Pest
Management - WEB Site |
|
Wireworms
Purdue
University - Field Crops IPM WEB site |
|
|
