Wireworms, the larvae of the click beetle, can cause severe damage to potatoes (and other susceptible crops).
They burrow into the tubers and render them unsuitable to be marketed for consumption. Wireworms usually live in the top soil layers in spring and autumn, but during summer as the heat increases, they move downward. If the heat and dry weather persist, they actively seek the watery tubers and start burrowing.
Solution
By setting up wireworm traps during spring, the number of wireworms can be determined before planting the potatoes.
The traps are based on the premise that wireworms are drawn to sources of CO2 (like sprouting roots).
Description
• In spring, with a soil temperature of at least 8 °C, place a pot full of cereal or maize grains into water and allow it soak for 24 hours.
• Spread out the soaked grains on about 20 cardboard or plastic plates, pot traps, stockings with adequate mesh size or similar materials. Sealable containers must have several holes; through which the worms can access the trap.
• Position the traps at a depth of 10 cm with at least 10 to 15 traps per field. The more traps per ha, the more reliable the results. Cover the traps with earth to soil-level and mark the locations.
• After 7 to 10 days, dig out the traps, collect them and count the wireworms.
• If one or more wireworms per trap is found, the field is infested quite strongly: economic losses are to be expected. In this case, cultivating sensitive crops like potatoes, salad, carrots or onions should be avoided. Cereals and millet are considered tolerant crops.
• Attention: If the traps contain few to no wireworms, it does not mean that potatoes should be cultivated on the field!
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