Journal of Economic Entomology (2022) 115, 773-782

Ivan Drahun, Katherine A. Hunt, Willem G. van Herk and Bryan J. Cassone (2022)
Evaluation of standardized bait trapping approaches and climatic factors that influence wireworm catch in the Canadian prairies
Journal of Economic Entomology 115 (3), 773-782
Abstract: Wireworms are significant pests of a variety of economically important crops grown in the Canadian Prairies. These soil-dwelling larvae of click beetles feed on and burrow into the accessible underground plant tissues, which can result in cosmetic injury, stunting, wilting, and plant death. Successful management of wireworms relies on accurate estimations of their abundance and activity in infested fields. Bait trapping is the most commonly used method for sampling wireworms and standardized approaches have been developed; however, little work has been done to optimize trapping efficacy in different geographical regions. In this study, we evaluated the effect of bait trapping duration, seed formulation, and the causal relationship with CO₂ production and soil temperature on the wireworm catch in three fields located in Manitoba, Canada. As expected, wireworm catch increased with trapping duration and placing traps in ground for 8 d is adequate in most cases. Both barley and wheat were more effective baits than soybean; however, barley released more CO₂ (i.e., an attractant for wireworms) and performed better at elevated soil temperatures. Overall, the results of this study will serve as valuable guidelines to improve current wireworm sampling methods, and can be integrated into strategies aimed at managing these important pests to crop production.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Willem G. van Herk

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pheromones/attractants/traps

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Hypnoidus bicolor		Canada (east)
	Limonius californicus		Canada (east)
	Hypnoidus abbreviatus		Canada (east)