Click Beetle (Wireworms)

What it looks like

Wireworms are the larvae of many different species known together as click beetles. Adult click beetles vary by species, but most are brown or black with long, slender bodies. They get their name from the way they flip themselves over with a clicking sound. The adults don't damage plants and aren't considered pests.

Wireworms are long and slender, and range from white to rust colored. Some have hard bodies and others are softer, depending on their age and species. A click beetle's life cycle can take 2 to 10 years, and most of that time is spent as a larva in the soil.

A wireworm, the larva that lives in the soil. The picture at the top is an adult click beetle.

Damage

Wireworms can damage many crops, most often corn, small grains, and potatoes. They feed on roots, and on the insides of seeds so the seeds don't sprout. Plants they feed on look stunted or wilted. They also bore round holes in potato tubers.

How nematodes help

The beneficial nematodes in BioLogic's products hunt down and kill wireworms in the soil.

How to apply

Treat with Scanmask in the spring or at planting time, applying it to the soil around your crops. The Garden Pack includes Scanmask Spray and the Nema-Jet Sprayer.

See How to apply for step-by-step directions, or use the calculator on the Scanmask Spray page to see how much you need.