Page 40 - AG 7-2011 Revised 2016
P. 40
Click Beetle Click Beetle larva or Wireworm
head & thorax
Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
Click Beetle larva or Wireworm Click Beetle larva or Wireworm
Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
Larva Only 6.Thorax-mesothorax elongated Wireworm 10
1.Antenna-2 segmented 7.Petiole- none
2.Eyes- 8.Abdomen-body tapers slightly toward end 3 6
3.Head-capsule deep brown 9.Color-yellow
4.Legs- 3 thoracic legs 10.Other-caudal end has teeth 1 hook
5.Wings-none on larva
Life Cycle 4
It takes about 3 to 4 years for the wireworm or click beetle to complete its life
cycle. Most of the life span is spent in the larval stage, but all stages may be Drawing by Andrew Schaible
present at once. The larvae stage lives in the soil. The larvae are usually the
most damaging phase, but for grapes the adult click beetle can be damaging.
It can overwinter in the ground and scattered debris.
Adult wireworms are about a half to 3/4ths inch in size, and colored reddish brown to black.
They are the larvae of click beetles, which can bend its body backwards and then quickly
straighten it to create an audible snap.
Damage
The click beetle will feed on buds during the spring. The click beetle is a day feeder, and it
emerges in the spring on warm days, feeding mostly on the roots of vegetables. Click beetles
may be seen in relatively large numbers resting on crops during the day. Even high populations
in vineyards seldom cause economic damage to the grapes. They are a serious pest on
potatoes, grains, sugarbeets, tomatoes, spinach, cotton, and corn. Beneficial nematodes are
the best control.
34
