Alternative Strategies for Controlling Wireworms in Field Crops: A Review
Wireworms, the soil-dwelling larvae of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), comprise major pests of several crops worldwide, including maize and potatoes. The current trend towards the reduction in pesticides use has resulted in strong demand for alternative methods to control wireworm population...
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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Series: | Agriculture |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/5/436 |
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author | Sylvain Poggi Ronan Le Cointe Jörn Lehmhus Manuel Plantegenest Lorenzo Furlan |
author_facet | Sylvain Poggi Ronan Le Cointe Jörn Lehmhus Manuel Plantegenest Lorenzo Furlan |
author_sort | Sylvain Poggi |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Wireworms, the soil-dwelling larvae of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), comprise major pests of several crops worldwide, including maize and potatoes. The current trend towards the reduction in pesticides use has resulted in strong demand for alternative methods to control wireworm populations. This review provides a state-of-the-art of current theory and practice in order to develop new agroecological strategies. The first step should be to conduct a risk assessment based on the production context (e.g., crop, climate, soil characteristics, and landscape) and on adult and/or larval population monitoring. When damage risk appears significant, prophylactic practices can be applied to reduce wireworm abundance (e.g., low risk rotations, tilling, and irrigation). Additionally, curative methods based on natural enemies and on naturally derived insecticides are, respectively, under development or in practice in some countries. Alternatively, practices may target a reduction in crop damage instead of pest abundance through the adoption of selected cultural practices (e.g., resistant varieties, planting and harvesting time) or through the manipulation of wireworm behavior (e.g., companion plants). Practices can be combined in a global Integrated Pest Management (IPM) framework to provide the desired level of crop protection. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:31:13Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-f4da3b4597254345b77ee742ac765cb6 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2077-0472 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:31:13Z |
publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Agriculture |
spelling | doaj.art-f4da3b4597254345b77ee742ac765cb62023-11-21T19:15:24ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722021-05-0111543610.3390/agriculture11050436Alternative Strategies for Controlling Wireworms in Field Crops: A ReviewSylvain Poggi0Ronan Le Cointe1Jörn Lehmhus2Manuel Plantegenest3Lorenzo Furlan4INRAE, Institute for Genetics, Environment and Plant Protection (IGEPP), Agrocampus Ouest, Université de Rennes, 35650 Le Rheu, FranceINRAE, Institute for Genetics, Environment and Plant Protection (IGEPP), Agrocampus Ouest, Université de Rennes, 35650 Le Rheu, FranceInstitute for Plant Protection in Field Crops and Grassland, Julius Kühn-Institute, 38104 Braunschweig, GermanyINRAE, Institute for Genetics, Environment and Plant Protection (IGEPP), Agrocampus Ouest, Université de Rennes, 35650 Le Rheu, FranceVeneto Agricoltura, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyWireworms, the soil-dwelling larvae of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), comprise major pests of several crops worldwide, including maize and potatoes. The current trend towards the reduction in pesticides use has resulted in strong demand for alternative methods to control wireworm populations. This review provides a state-of-the-art of current theory and practice in order to develop new agroecological strategies. The first step should be to conduct a risk assessment based on the production context (e.g., crop, climate, soil characteristics, and landscape) and on adult and/or larval population monitoring. When damage risk appears significant, prophylactic practices can be applied to reduce wireworm abundance (e.g., low risk rotations, tilling, and irrigation). Additionally, curative methods based on natural enemies and on naturally derived insecticides are, respectively, under development or in practice in some countries. Alternatively, practices may target a reduction in crop damage instead of pest abundance through the adoption of selected cultural practices (e.g., resistant varieties, planting and harvesting time) or through the manipulation of wireworm behavior (e.g., companion plants). Practices can be combined in a global Integrated Pest Management (IPM) framework to provide the desired level of crop protection.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/5/436click beetlecrop damageintegrated pest managementrisk assessmentpest monitoringbiocontrol |
spellingShingle | Sylvain Poggi Ronan Le Cointe Jörn Lehmhus Manuel Plantegenest Lorenzo Furlan Alternative Strategies for Controlling Wireworms in Field Crops: A Review Agriculture click beetle crop damage integrated pest management risk assessment pest monitoring biocontrol |
title | Alternative Strategies for Controlling Wireworms in Field Crops: A Review |
title_full | Alternative Strategies for Controlling Wireworms in Field Crops: A Review |
title_fullStr | Alternative Strategies for Controlling Wireworms in Field Crops: A Review |
title_full_unstemmed | Alternative Strategies for Controlling Wireworms in Field Crops: A Review |
title_short | Alternative Strategies for Controlling Wireworms in Field Crops: A Review |
title_sort | alternative strategies for controlling wireworms in field crops a review |
topic | click beetle crop damage integrated pest management risk assessment pest monitoring biocontrol |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/5/436 |
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