Wireworm
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 ferrugineipennis
Rusty Click Beetle
A click beetle (Elateridae) native to western North America. Adults emerge in spring and are active in grassy agricultural habitats. The species was identified in a 2022 study as having 7-methyloctyl 7-methyloctanoate as its major female-produced sex pheromone, to which males show strong attraction. Larvae are soil-dwelling wireworms with potential agricultural pest status.
Agriotes fucosus
Dark Click Beetle
Agriotes fucosus, commonly known as the Dark Click Beetle, is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. It is native to North America with documented records from several Canadian provinces including Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia. The species is part of a genus containing agricultural pests whose larvae (wireworms) damage crop roots.
Agriotes insanus
Agriotes insanus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. It belongs to a genus that includes several agricultural pest species whose larvae (wireworms) damage crop roots and tubers. Specific ecological and biological details for A. insanus remain poorly documented in available sources.
Agriotes isabellinus
Isabelline Click Beetle
Agriotes isabellinus is a click beetle (family Elateridae) known as the Isabelline Click Beetle. It is native to eastern Canada, with records from Ontario and Québec. As a member of the genus Agriotes, its larvae are likely wireworms, though specific life history details for this species remain poorly documented. The species has been detected through environmental DNA methods in studies targeting invasive pest detection.
Agriotes limosus
Muddy Click Beetle
Agriotes limosus is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Muddy Click Beetle. The species is native to North America with documented records across multiple Canadian provinces. As with other Agriotes species, the larvae (wireworms) are soil-dwelling and may feed on plant roots. The species has been detected in environmental DNA studies of green yard waste, indicating its potential for inadvertent transport through human activities.
Agriotes lineatus
lined click beetle, wireworm
Agriotes lineatus, the lined click beetle, is a click beetle species native to Europe and western Asia that has become invasive in North America. Adults are 7.5–11 mm long with brownish-black bodies and distinctive longitudinal stripes on the elytra. The larvae, known as wireworms, are significant agricultural pests that attack roots, tubers, and seeds of crops including potatoes, maize, and strawberries. The species has a life cycle of approximately 3 years with up to 12 larval instars. Management relies on integrated pest management approaches including pheromone monitoring, crop rotation, and biological control.
Agriotes oblongicollis
Oblong-necked Click Beetle
Agriotes oblongicollis is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Oblong-necked Click Beetle. Larvae of this genus are known as wireworms and are significant agricultural pests. The species is native to eastern North America, with confirmed records from Ontario and Québec, Canada. As a member of the economically important genus Agriotes, it has potential significance for crop protection and pest management, though specific damage records for this species are not well documented.
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 sparsus
Western Wireworm
Agriotes sparsus is a click beetle in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Western Wireworm. The species is native to western North America and has been recorded in British Columbia, Canada. Like other members of the genus Agriotes, the larval stage is a wireworm—a soil-dwelling pest that feeds on plant roots and tubers. The species is of agricultural concern due to its potential to damage crops.
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.
Agriotes stabilis
Stable Click Beetle
Agriotes stabilis is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, found across central and eastern Canada. The species was described by LeConte in 1853. Like other members of the genus Agriotes, the larvae are likely soil-dwelling and may be referred to as wireworms, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. The species has been recorded in British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario.
Agriotes tardus
Tardy Click Beetle
Agriotes tardus is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, described by W.J. Brown in 1933. It is known from western Canada, with records from Alberta and British Columbia. The species is part of the economically important genus Agriotes, which includes several agricultural pests whose larvae (wireworms) damage crop roots and tubers. However, specific information about the biology and pest status of A. tardus itself remains limited in published literature.
Agriotes thevenetii
Thevenet's Click Beetle
Agriotes thevenetii is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, native to western North America. The species is known from British Columbia, Canada, and is closely related to other Agriotes species that are significant agricultural pests. Larvae of related Agriotes species, commonly called wireworms, are known to damage root crops. The species was described by George Henry Horn in 1872.
Agrypnus
Agrypnus is a genus of click beetles (Elateridae) in the subfamily Agrypninae. The genus includes species with Palearctic distribution, with some members inhabiting diverse environments from scrubland and grasslands to coastal sand dunes. Larvae of at least some species are soil-dwelling wireworms that feed on plant roots and other insects. One species, Agrypnus murinus, has been subject to genome sequencing and is recognized as an agricultural pest.
Athous rufifrons
Red-fronted Click Beetle
Athous rufifrons is a species of click beetle (family Elateridae) described by Randall in 1838. The common name 'Red-fronted Click Beetle' refers to a distinctive color pattern on the head or pronotum. Like other members of Elateridae, it possesses the characteristic clicking mechanism that allows the beetle to right itself when flipped onto its back. The species is documented from eastern Canada with scattered observation records.
Cyladini
Cyladini is a tribe of weevils in the family Brentidae, subfamily Apioninae. The tribe includes economically significant pests of sweet potato, particularly the sweetpotato weevil (Cylas formicarius), which causes substantial damage to storage roots in tropical and subtropical production regions. Members of this tribe are characterized by their association with Convolvulaceae host plants and their status as specialized root-feeding pests.
pestagriculturesweet-potatoConvolvulaceaeintegrated-pest-managementCylas-formicariustropical-agriculturesubtropical-agricultureroot-feeding-weevilstorage-root-damageeconomic-pestbiological-controlcrop-protectionsoutheastern-United-Statesglobal-food-securitylow-input-farmingdrought-tolerant-cropnematode-interactionsBeauveria-bassianaentomopathogenic-nematodesresistant-varietiescrop-rotationcover-cropsIPMBrentidaeApioninaeColeopteraInsectaHexapodaArthropodaAnimaliaClaire-SchloemerAuburn-UniversityUniversity-of-Wisconsin-MadisonJournal-of-Integrated-Pest-ManagementScott-GrahamKathy-LawrenceCovingtonBonitaBeauregardOrleansguava-root-knot-nematoderoot-knot-nematodewirewormcucumber-beetleflea-beetlePurpureocillium-lilacinumbiopesticidegreen-bridge-effectmustardglucosinolatepeanutbahiagrasssandy-soildrought-adaptationbiofuelanimal-feednutritional-valuefood-securitysustainable-agricultureenvironmental-impactmicrobial-controlfungal-pathogenentomopathogenic-fungusbiological-nematicidenematode-egg-parasitismpest-managementagricultural-entomologycrop-lossyield-reductionroot-qualitymarketabilityintegrated-managementcultural-controlselective-chemical-useproductivitynatural-processesversatilityglobal-cultivationtropical-regionssubtropical-regionssoutheastern-U.S.domestic-productionrevenueacreageharvestfarminggrowerbreedingresearchcultivar-developmentevolving-threatspest-pressuresoil-healthfield-preparationwinter-habitatinsect-habitatparasitisminfestationdamagelosschallengedefensearsenalbattlewarresilienceadaptationinnovationstrategysustainabilitylivelihoodnourishmentfood-productionagricultural-researchentomologyplant-protectioncrop-sciencehorticultureroot-croptuberstorage-organfeeding-injurygallingcracked-rootsstunted-growthwater-uptakenutrient-uptakepathogen-interactionexacerbated-damagevariety-selectionhardy-varietyrobust-performancehigh-yieldnematode-resistancepest-resistancevulnerabilityspreading-pestpopulation-reductionsoil-improvementspring-plantingtoxic-compoundnatural-propertymicrobial-productformulationapplicationevaluationmaximizationpotentialurgencygrowing-threatcomprehensive-strategybalanceenablementessential-cropsecuritydefiancedifficult-conditionsmenacing-pestsformidable-threatsproduction-continuationface-to-facethreatdiseaseresilient-cropgrowing-conditionsmenacestorysurfacebeneathrelentlessadversaryfavorconditionpowerfulfoetinyparasiteattackformationdiminishabilityresultunattractiveworsematterinteractionsignificantdevastatingruininflictfurthercompromisegrapplethankfullyfarmerbeginselecthardywithstandtraditionalgaintractionvulnerablehighlightneedcontinuebreedeffortdevelopcapableopposeevolveaftersturdyculturalmanagementrotationcovercroppinglinetakeyearoffgrowrotatenon-hostproveeffectivereducepopulationbreathelifeimprovehealthsuppressprepareexamplecontaincompoundcallbreakdownreleasesubstancewaryproviderepresentmethodharnesshelpwinsporefungusinfectkilltypetapdifferentmicroscopicanimalparasitizeplususecombatattentioneggaidfightminimizeimpactdespiteadvancequestionremainrequiremaximizeparticularlyurgentposekeyenhanceapproachintegratepracticecontrolselectivechemicalenablenaturalprocessnutritionalvalueessentialcropglobalfoodregionsupportmillionaddresspressureinnovativesustainableensurelivemanyformidableproductionalthoughcomefaceresilientabledefydifficultreadmorejournalintegratedClaireSchloemerPh.D.studentconductearnmasterdegreeemailsharelinkfriendopennewwindowprintFacebookLinkedInBlueskyMastodonXRedditThreadsrelateddiscoverfromtodaysubscribegetlatestpostsendyourCylasformicariussweetpotatosweetpotatoweevilphotocourtesyshowherecucumberbeetleroot-knotnematodeharmU.S.guidedetailvarietyoptionbeloveddelicioustastebenefitbrightcolorrankseventhmostimportantworldtropicalsubtropicalareaaroundservefeedsourcegoodpicklow-inputstylewelladaptedsandysoildroughtUnitedStates2022over130,000acregeneratenearly600southeasternleaddomesticAuburnUniversityweatherarticlepublishMarchcolleagueScottGrahamKathyLawrencevariousamongplant-parasiticspecificallyrootsystemcausegallplantwaternutrientstuntedgrowthyieldcrackmakeinteractpathogenexacerbateinsectknowstorage7annualsouthernfleaqualityleaveeconomicownresistancebettermeanwhilenewerhighrobustperformancehoweverresistguavaspeciesspreadnextseasonwinterfieldspringtoxicgreenbridgeeffecthabitatfeedersymptominfectionbiologicalpropertymicrobeBeauveriabassianaagentformulateenvironmentallyfriendlyproducteasyapplysimilarlybeneficialentomopathogenicnematicidePurpureocilliumlilacinumsolutionenvironmentalresistantnematode-resistantcultivarcomprehensivecultivationWisconsin-MadisoncschloemerwisceduDipropus schwarzi
Dipropus schwarzi is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The genus Dipropus belongs to a diverse family of beetles commonly known as click beetles, characterized by their ability to produce a clicking sound and jump when threatened. Very little specific information has been documented about this particular species in the available sources.
Heteroderes amplicollis
Gulf Wireworm
Heteroderes amplicollis is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Gulf Wireworm. The species is part of a genus whose larvae are known as wireworms, soil-dwelling pests that feed on plant roots and tubers. Adults are typically encountered in field settings and can be found on vegetation.
Horistonotus uhlerii
Sand Wireworm
Horistonotus uhlerii is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Sand Wireworm. The species is native to North America and is associated with sandy habitats. Adult beetles are typical of the genus in general form, while larvae are wireworms—elongated, hard-bodied larvae that develop in soil. The species has been documented in limited observations, with available records indicating a preference for sandy substrates.
Hypnoidus
wireworms
Hypnoidus is a genus of click beetles (family Elateridae) whose soil-dwelling larval stages are known as wireworms. Species in this genus are found across Eurasia and North America, with several species recognized as agricultural pests. The genus includes economically significant species such as Hypnoidus bicolor and Hypnoidus abbreviatus, which damage crop roots in the Canadian Prairies.
Hypnoidus bicolor
Bicolour Click Beetle
Hypnoidus bicolor is a click beetle species (Elateridae) found throughout the Canadian Prairies and other parts of the Holarctic region. The species exists as a potential cryptic species complex, with two genetically distinct clades (>4.66% COX1 sequence divergence) identified in prairie populations. Larvae are soil-dwelling wireworms that can damage soybean and other crops, though they are smaller and less destructive than related pest species such as Limonius californicus and Hypnoidus abbreviatus. Population genetic studies indicate uneven gene flow among populations with low regional genetic structuring, and evidence of range expansion coinciding with intensive agricultural practices.
Lanelater
Lanelater is a genus of click beetles (family Elateridae, subfamily Agrypninae) established by Arnett in 1952. The genus includes at least 10 described species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. Species have been documented in India, Pakistan, and other regions, with some species such as Lanelater fuscipes recognized as significant agricultural pests whose larvae (wireworms) damage field crops by feeding on below-ground plant structures. A new species, Lanelater majeednsis, was recently described from Khairpur district, Sindh, Pakistan.
Limonius
click beetles, wireworms (larval stage)
Limonius is a genus of click beetles in the family Elateridae, containing at least 30 described species. The larvae, known as wireworms, are significant agricultural pests in North America, particularly affecting root vegetables and cereals. Many species formerly placed in this genus have been reassigned to other genera such as Gambrinus. Research on Limonius has focused on both the damaging larval stage and the adult stage, including pheromone-based trapping and molecular gut content analysis to understand feeding ecology.
Limonius agonus
Eastern Field Wireworm
Limonius agonus, commonly known as the eastern field wireworm, is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The species is native to North America and has been documented in Canadian provinces including Ontario and Québec. Larvae of this species are soil-dwelling wireworms that can cause damage to agricultural crops.
Limonius anceps
Duplicitous Click Beetle
Limonius anceps is a click beetle in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Duplicitous Click Beetle. The species has been documented in at least three observations on iNaturalist. As a member of the genus Limonius, it belongs to a group of elaterid beetles commonly referred to as wireworms in their larval stage, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in available sources.
Limonius aurifer
Gold-headed Click Beetle
Limonius aurifer is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Gold-headed Click Beetle. It is native to North America and has been documented in Canada (Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec) and the United States. The species is part of the genus Limonius, which includes several economically important agricultural pests known as wireworms. Research has investigated the efficacy of synthetic sex pheromones for trapping multiple Limonius species across various North American locations.
Limonius auripilis
Red-Shouldered Wireworm
Limonius auripilis is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Red-Shouldered Wireworm. The larval stage, referred to as wireworms, are soil-dwelling pests known to damage agricultural crops. The species has been documented in Ontario and Québec, Canada. Research has examined pheromone-based trapping methods for monitoring and managing this and related Limonius species.
Limonius brevis
Limonius brevis is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The genus Limonius includes several economically important pest species known as wireworms, the soil-dwelling larval form that damages crop roots. Research on related Limonius species has investigated pheromone-based trapping methods for monitoring and management.
Limonius californicus
sugarbeet wireworm
Limonius californicus, commonly known as the sugarbeet wireworm, is a click beetle in the family Elateridae. The larval stage, referred to as wireworms, is an agricultural pest particularly associated with sugar beet and other crops in the northwestern United States and western Canada. Adult males exhibit distinctive mate-finding behavior, using olfactory cues to locate females that release a sex attractant shortly after emergence.
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.
Limonius ectypus
Western Field Click Beetle
Limonius ectypus, commonly known as the Western Field Click Beetle, is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. It is distributed across central and western Canada, with records from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. As a member of the genus Limonius, it belongs to a group of soil-dwelling beetles whose larvae (wireworms) are significant agricultural pests. The species has been the subject of recent research on pheromone-based trapping methods for wireworm management.
Limonius infuscatus
Western field wireworm
Limonius infuscatus, commonly known as the Western field wireworm, is a nocturnal click beetle native to the northwestern United States. The larval stage, referred to as a wireworm, is a soil-dwelling pest known to damage agricultural crops. The species belongs to the family Elateridae, characterized by the ability of adults to produce an audible click when righting themselves from a supine position.
Limonius jonesi
Limonius jonesi is a species of click beetle (family Elateridae) described by Lane in 1965. It belongs to a genus containing several North American pest species commonly known as wireworms in their larval stage. The species is one of multiple Limonius species studied for pheromone-based trapping methods as part of integrated pest management research.
Limonius pectoralis
Limonius pectoralis is a species of click beetle (family Elateridae) described by LeConte in 1866. It is one of several Limonius species known as agricultural pests, with larvae commonly referred to as wireworms. The species has been documented across northern and western North America, including Canadian provinces from British Columbia to New Brunswick. Research has investigated pheromone-based trapping methods for this species as part of integrated pest management strategies.
Limonius semiaeneus
Limonius semiaeneus is a species of click beetle (family Elateridae) in the genus Limonius. The species is known from North America, with limited documented observations. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with soil-dwelling larval stages, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The genus Limonius includes several economically significant wireworm species, but the relative importance of L. semiaeneus as an agricultural pest has not been established.
Limonius subauratus
Columbia Basin Wireworm
Limonius subauratus, commonly known as the Columbia Basin Wireworm, is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The species is found in North America, with confirmed distribution records from Canadian provinces including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and New Brunswick. The larval stage, referred to as a wireworm, is the economically significant form. Research has been conducted on synthetic sex pheromones for monitoring this and related Limonius species.
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 clandestinus
Melanotus clandestinus is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae. It is one of several Melanotus species known as corn wireworms, with larvae that develop in soil and feed on crop roots. The genus includes significant agricultural pests, though specific information on this particular species is limited in available sources.
Melanotus communis
corn wireworm
Melanotus communis is a click beetle (Elateridae) whose larvae, known as corn wireworms, are significant agricultural pests in the eastern United States. Adults are reddish-brown and approximately 13 mm long. The species has been studied extensively for its pest status in sugarcane, potato, and other crops, with research focusing on entomopathogen susceptibility, pheromone-based monitoring, and soil habitat preferences.
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.
Melanotus cribricollis
Melanotus cribricollis is a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) whose larvae are the dominant species of bamboo shoot wireworms, causing significant damage to bamboo forests in China. Larvae feed gregariously on fresh bamboo shoots, with up to nearly 20 individuals per shoot and damage rates reaching 80%. The species lives underground throughout its long life cycle, making prevention and control difficult. Research has characterized its innate immune system, including a β-1,3-glucan recognition protein gene that mediates defense against fungal pathogens such as Metarhizium pingshaense.
Melanotus cribriventris
Melanotus cribriventris is a species of click beetle (family Elateridae) with documented occurrence in India, Sri Lanka, China, and the USA. The species has a body length of approximately 10 mm, with elytra measuring about 7.5 mm. As a member of the genus Melanotus, it belongs to a group that includes several agricultural pest species known as wireworms in their larval stage.
Melanotus cribulosus
Melanotus cribulosus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, first described by LeConte in 1853. The genus Melanotus includes multiple species of wireworms, the soil-dwelling larval stage of click beetles, which are recognized as agricultural pests. Specific ecological and behavioral details for M. cribulosus remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Melanotus depressus
wireworm
Melanotus depressus is a wireworm species in the click beetle family Elateridae, first described by Melsheimer in 1844. The larval stage, known as wireworms, are soil-dwelling pests that feed on plant roots and tubers. Laboratory studies have examined their feeding behavior and growth under varying environmental conditions including temperature, photoperiod, and dietary regimes.
Melanotus dietrichi
Melanotus dietrichi is a species of click beetle (Elateridae) described by Quate in 1967. The genus Melanotus includes several economically significant wireworm species whose larvae are agricultural pests. M. dietrichi belongs to a group of soil-dwelling beetles where larval stages feed on plant roots and subterranean plant parts.
Melanotus difficilis
Melanotus difficilis is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. Very limited information is available for this species; only one observation has been documented on iNaturalist, indicating it is either extremely rare, poorly sampled, or potentially a taxonomic synonym. The genus Melanotus contains numerous species of wireworms and click beetles, many of which are soil-dwelling larvae that feed on plant roots.
Melanotus gradatus
Melanotus gradatus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. Like other members of the genus Melanotus, it is part of a group commonly referred to as wireworms in their larval stage. The genus includes several agricultural pest species, though specific information on M. gradatus itself is limited.
Melanotus hyslopi
Melanotus hyslopi is a click beetle species (family Elateridae) described by Van Zwaluwenburg in 1921. The species is recorded from Ontario and Québec, Canada. Like other members of the genus Melanotus, the larvae are wireworms—soil-dwelling pests of agricultural crops. The species is poorly known compared to its congener Melanotus communis, which has been studied extensively as a corn wireworm pest.