Melanotus communis

Gyllenhal

corn wireworm

Melanotus communis is a click beetle (Elateridae) whose larvae, known as corn wireworms, are significant agricultural pests in the eastern United States. are reddish-brown and approximately 13 mm long. The has been studied extensively for its pest status in sugarcane, potato, and other crops, with research focusing on entomopathogen susceptibility, -based monitoring, and soil preferences.

Click Beetle - Melanotus communis complex, Occoquan Regional Park, Lorton, Virginia by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Melanotus communis: /mɛˈlænoʊtəs kəˈmjuːnɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

can be distinguished from other Melanotus by their reddish-brown coloration and size. Larvae are recognized as typical wireworms—elongate, cylindrical, short-legged, with a somewhat flattened . The species has been confirmed to produce 13-tetradecenyl acetate as a female-specific component, which may assist in distinguishing it from sympatric congenerics through trapping.

Images

Habitat

Soil-dwelling in agricultural fields, particularly sugarcane fields in Florida. Shows strong preference for muck (organic) soils over sandy soils in Florida sugarcane systems, though present in both.

Distribution

Eastern North America: Canada (Ontario, Quebec); United States (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin).

Diet

Larvae feed on roots and tubers of grain crops, root vegetables, and sugarcane. plants include sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), many grasses, and various vegetables and cereals.

Host Associations

Saccharum officinarum - pestmajor in Florida
Solanum tuberosum - pestsignificant agricultural
Zea mays - pestimplied by 'corn '
various grasses - pestgeneral category
various vegetables and cereals - pestgeneral category

Life Cycle

Complete with , larva (), pupa, and stages. Egg stage approximately 0.3 mm. Larval stage is the damaging wireworm form, reaching 21–25 mm at maturity. occurs in soil; pupa white and adult-sized.

Behavior

Larvae exhibit soil-dwelling with directed movement toward food sources such as oat baits. In free-choice tests, larvae show strong preference for residing in muck versus sandy soil. produce (13-tetradecenyl acetate) for mate location; males exhibit dose-dependent response to this compound.

Ecological Role

Agricultural pest in agroecosystems. Soil-dwelling larval stage contributes to nutrient cycling through feeding activity, though economic impact is negative due to crop damage.

Human Relevance

Major economic pest of sugarcane in Florida, potatoes in the eastern U.S., and other grain, root, and vegetable crops. Subject of ongoing research into using and fungi, though current strains show limited efficacy. Synthetic (13-tetradecenyl acetate) has been identified for potential monitoring and management applications.

Similar Taxa

Limonius spp.Other pests in same ; distinguished by chemistry and morphological features of and larvae
other Melanotus speciesCongeneric click beetles; M. communis distinguished by confirmed component 13-tetradecenyl acetate and specific associations