Potato-pest
Guides
Agriotes
click beetles, wireworms (larvae)
Agriotes is a large genus of click beetles (family Elateridae) containing approximately 274 described species distributed across the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The genus includes numerous agricultural pest species whose larvae, known as wireworms, feed on crop roots and tubers. Several Palearctic species have become invasive in North America, where they threaten potato and cereal production. Adults are attracted to species-specific sex pheromones, enabling monitoring and mass trapping programs.
Agriotes obscurus
dusky wireworm, obscure click beetle
Agriotes obscurus is a click beetle native to Europe and northern Asia that has become an established invasive pest in western North America since its accidental introduction around 1900. The larvae, known as wireworms, are significant agricultural pests that feed on tubers, seeds, and roots of numerous crops including potatoes, cereals, and vegetables. Adults are dark brown to black beetles 7–10 mm long, distinguishable from related species by their pronotum morphology and elytral ridges. The species has a prolonged life cycle of 2–4 years depending on temperature, with larvae passing through 8–13 instars before pupation.
Agriotes sputator
Spitting Click Beetle, Common Click Beetle
Agriotes sputator is a click beetle native to Europe, with established populations in parts of western Asia, North Africa, and an introduced range in eastern Canada. Adults are small (6–9 mm), dark brown to black with reddish-brown antennae and legs. The larvae, known as wireworms, are soil-dwelling agricultural pests that feed on roots and germinating seeds. The species completes its life cycle in up to five years, with larvae developing through multiple growth stages before pupation. It is considered a serious pest of cereals, potatoes, and other crops, and is monitored using pheromone traps baited with geranyl butanoate.
Aphis nasturtii
Buckthorn Aphid, Buckthorn-Potato Aphid
Aphis nasturtii is a cosmopolitan aphid species known primarily as a pest of agricultural crops, particularly potatoes, sunflowers, lettuce, and beets. It is a phloem-feeding insect that extracts plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts. The species is of significant economic concern due to its direct feeding damage and its role as a vector for at least 15 plant viruses. Common names reflect its association with buckthorn (likely a primary or overwintering host) and potato (a major agricultural host).
Epicaerus
broad-nosed weevils
Epicaerus is a genus of broad-nosed weevils in the tribe Geonemini, family Curculionidae. The genus contains more than 90 described species distributed across North America and Central America. At least one species, E. panamensis, has been documented as a pest of potato cultivars in Panama. The genus is characterized by the typical broad-nosed weevil morphology associated with the subfamily Entiminae.
Epitrix
Hairy Flea Beetles
Epitrix is a genus of flea beetles (Chrysomelidae: Alticini) containing 162 described species with worldwide distribution across all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Many species are significant agricultural pests, particularly of Solanaceae crops including potato, tomato, eggplant, and tobacco. Several species have been inadvertently introduced between continents, establishing populations in new regions and becoming subjects of quarantine concern.
Epitrix brevis
Epitrix brevis is a flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, native to North America and recently detected as an invasive species in Europe. First recorded in Italy in 2024, it feeds on solanaceous plants including economically important crops. In its native range, it is not considered a major pest, but its establishment in Europe raises concerns for agricultural impacts due to favorable conditions and potential lack of natural enemies.
Epitrix cucumeris
potato flea beetle
Epitrix cucumeris is a small flea beetle native to North America and a major agricultural pest of potatoes. Adults measure 1.5–2 mm and feed on foliage, while larvae may damage tubers. The species has been introduced to Europe, including Portugal, Spain, and the Azores. Identification requires detailed examination due to similarity to congeners.
Epitrix tuberis
tuber flea beetle
Epitrix tuberis is a small flea beetle species native to western North America, first described by Gentner in 1944. It is the most damaging of five Epitrix species associated with potato cultivation in North America. The species completes two generations annually and has been expanding its range into Central and South America in association with potato industry development. Adults and larvae both feed on Solanaceous plants, with larvae causing economically significant damage to potato tubers.
Limonius canus
Pacific Coast Wireworm
Limonius canus, commonly known as the Pacific Coast wireworm, is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae. The larval stage is a significant agricultural pest, particularly damaging to potatoes, wheat, and other crops in the Pacific Coast region of North America. Research has documented its behavioral responses to insecticides, including repellence and contact-induced morbidity from certain compounds. The species harbors diverse gut bacteria that have been investigated for potential biocontrol applications.
Melanotus
click beetles (insect genus), dark-spored mushrooms (fungal genus)
Melanotus is a genus of click beetles (family Elateridae) comprising approximately 800 described species distributed worldwide. The genus includes several economically significant agricultural pests, particularly wireworm species whose larvae damage crop roots and tubers. Research has identified sex pheromones for some species, enabling development of monitoring and management tools. The genus name Melanotus is also applied to a fungal genus in Strophariaceae, but this record addresses the beetle genus.
Melanotus americanus
corn wireworm
Melanotus americanus is a click beetle (family Elateridae) commonly known as the corn wireworm, recognized as an agricultural pest of potatoes and other crops. The larval stage, referred to as wireworms, lives in soil and feeds on plant roots and tubers, causing significant damage to agricultural systems. The species has been recorded in Ontario, Canada, and is part of a genus containing multiple economically important wireworm species.
Melanotus communis
corn wireworm
Melanotus communis is a click beetle species whose larvae, known as corn wireworms, are significant agricultural pests in North America. The species is currently treated as a species complex due to unresolved taxonomic boundaries with closely related forms. Larvae feed on germinating seeds and roots of corn, potatoes, and other crops, causing substantial economic damage. Research has focused on developing biological control methods using entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi, as well as pheromone-based monitoring systems.
Rhopalosiphoninus
Rhopalosiphoninus is a genus of aphids in the family Aphididae. Species in this genus are distributed across Europe, Australia, and North America. The genus includes both above-ground and subterranean-feeding species. At least one species, Rhopalosiphoninus latysiphon, is restricted to potato roots due to climatic intolerance of aerial conditions.
Rhopalosiphoninus latysiphon
bulb-and-potato aphid
Rhopalosiphoninus latysiphon is an aphid species that infests subterranean plant parts, particularly potato roots and bulbs of ornamental plants such as tulip and gladiolus. Its common name reflects its association with both bulb crops and potatoes. The species is distinguished by its preference for cool, damp environments and avoidance of above-ground foliage under normal field conditions. Two subspecies have been described but may be synonyms.
Symmetrischema
Symmetrischema is a genus of gelechiid moths established by Povolný in 1967. The genus includes economically significant agricultural pests, most notably the Andean potato tuber moth (S. tangolias), which causes severe postharvest losses to stored potatoes in highland regions. Some species exhibit specialized feeding strategies, including the ability to induce parthenocarpic fruit development in host plants. The genus occurs across the Americas with at least one species introduced to Oceania.
Trichobaris
flower weevils
Trichobaris is a genus of flower weevils in the family Curculionidae, comprising 8–13 described species distributed from the southwestern United States through Mexico. These weevils are specialized herbivores associated with plants in the family Solanaceae, particularly the genus Datura, with which they likely coevolved. Several species are notable agricultural pests, including T. mucorea (tobacco stalk borer) and T. trinotata (potato stalk borer), which also feed on cultivated solanaceous crops. Research on this genus has contributed to understanding host-herbivore coevolution, chemical ecology of host selection, and the decoupling of maternal oviposition cues from larval performance.