Reduced-risk Wireworm Management in Potato

Wireworms, the larvae of click beetles, live in the soil and cause damage to the underground parts of plants. For potatoes, underground feeding reduces yields and causes cosmetic injury, making the product unmarketable.

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A healthy potato tuber (left) compared to one damaged (right). The tunnelling results from late summer feeding by wireworm larvae. (Image by R. S. Vernon)

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Severely-damaged potato: wireworm feeding early in tuber growth results in a major deformation of the harvested crop. (Image by R. S. Vernon)

Traditionally, organophosphate insecticides have been used to control wireworms. In Canada, many of these older, broad-spectrum products are no longer available or are being phased out. Consequently, wireworms have re-emerged as a serious problem in many regions and there are few effective controls.

The Pesticide Risk Reduction (PRR) Program's strategy for wireworm control is a national initiative. It was developed collaboratively through consultations with industry stakeholders, leading researchers in the field of wireworm management, and provincial crop specialists. It has been given the support of the federal Pesticide Risk Reduction Program, delivered jointly by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and provincial government programs. The objective of this strategy is to promote economic wireworm control, while reducing human health and environmental risks associated with insecticide use. This factsheet highlights some of the work that has been conducted with the support of the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program and presents the status of these efforts.

Identification of wireworm species across regions

There are more than 800 species of wireworm worldwide, but only a small number of these are serious agricultural threats that cause economic losses. Approximately 30 species are recognised as pests in Canada, many of which are found in potato fields. A nation-wide species survey was launched in 2008 in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, growers, and crop specialists. Field material was collected using various methods and wireworms sent to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada-Agassiz in British Columbia for identification. The survey continued in 2009. Already, differences in species composition across different regions in Canada are being identified from preliminary results. The first draft of the national species distribution map will soon be published, and should eventually help growers select the most effective control methods for the species in their regions.

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Two of the wireworm species identified from a 2008-2009 national survey. Top: Limonius canus larva and adult (Images by W. van Herk); bottom: Agriotes obscurus larva and adult (Images by R. S. Vernon)

Insecticide screening

Wireworm species respond to insecticides in various ways. Some products kill wireworms, while others may repel the larvae or paralyze them for long periods. Due in part to the complex biology of these pests (larvae may live from 2 to 6 years), pesticide screening is a challenging endeavour. Methods and protocols were developed to enable the handling and storage of these organisms. Toxicity and behavioural bioassays were established to allow for proper testing. These were implemented in laboratory and field trials aimed at identifying promising, reduced-risk products for registration.

As a result of these efforts, two products were submitted to the federal pesticides regulator, Pest Management Regulatory Agency for national registration:

  • Titan (clothianidin): Efficacy data were generated in field trials to support a minor-use label expansion. Review by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency was completed in November 2008, and the product was registered for use as of February 2009. Clothianidin, which works through long-term reversible intoxication of wireworms, is registered as 'suppressing' wireworm damage.
  • Capture (bifenthrin): Efficacy data were generated in field trials to support a Category-A submission by the registrant. The product is registered for wireworm control in potatoes in the United States, and is currently under evaluation at the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.
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Typical setting of a screening trial designed to generate efficacy data. (Image by R. S. Vernon)

Biopesticide evaluation

Two products were evaluated as potential biopesticides to control wireworms:

  1. Pathogenic fungus - Metarhizium anisopliae
    A highly virulent isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) was found in British Columbia and has been developed for use as the active ingredient of a prospective pest control product. Known as LRC112, the isolate was demonstrated to infect and kill wireworms in the lab and under field conditions. Still an experimental product, its efficacy depends heavily on environmental conditions, that is, temperature and soil moisture. More work related to challenges with increasing production of this biocontrol agent is needed.
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    A dead wireworm (left) as a result of infection by Metarhizium anisopliae (Agassiz strain). The progress to mycelial growth (second left) and heavy sporulation (right). (Image by T. Kabaluk)

  2. CA-1: mustard-based product
    Testing of CA-1 suggested that this commercially available product might have a repellent effect on wireworms. Laboratory and field trials determined that the product does not cause mortality, but may cause the pest to retreat deeper into the soil. This could potentially be used to keep wireworms away from the soil layers where most damage occurs. Timing appears to be critical, as early application may result in phytotoxic effects on the potatoes. The approach is still experimental and requires further study to assess its suitability.

Innovative application technology

Blended insecticides and application procedures were tested in laboratory and field studies. Proprietary technology based on an attract-and-kill strategy was developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and submitted for worldwide patent in 2009. The technology uses insecticides at rates that would pose negligible risks to human health or the environment, but would result in crop protection equivalent to or better than the current standard, Thimet. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is working with an industry partner, and registration and marketing are expected within 5 years.

Optimized crop rotation

Crop rotation is a pest management practice recommended to potato growers for wireworm management. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is conducting a study aimed at identifying crops that are non-preferred hosts for wireworms. When serving as rotational crops, these have the potential to reduce female beetle egg-laying, thus decreasing larval populations for the following season. Rotational crops may also affect the survival of larvae developing in these sites. Field trials started in 2008 and continued in 2009 and four crops were tested: brown mustard, buckwheat, alfalfa, and barley. Differences in wireworm populations between the various crops are apparent in preliminary results. Final results may support new recommendations for this well-established cropping tradition.

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Mustard crop tested for rotation with potato. Trial site near Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (Image by C. Noronha)

For more information:

Species survey, insecticide screening and proprietary application technology, please contact Wim Van Herk

Biopesticides - Metarhizium, please contact Todd Kabaluk

Biopesticides - natural mustard, please email Dr. Loretta Mikitzel

Crop rotation, please contact Dr. Christine Noronha

Acknowledgement

We thank Dr. Robert S. Vernon for his work on species survey, insecticide screening and proprietary application technology which contributed to the success of the project.