Wireworm
Guides
Melanotus ignobilis
Melanotus ignobilis is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, first described by Melsheimer in 1844. The species is known from Ontario, Canada, with limited observational records. As a member of the genus Melanotus, it belongs to a group of wireworm beetles whose larvae are soil-dwelling agricultural pests. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in published literature.
Melanotus indistinctus
Melanotus indistinctus is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, described by Quate in 1967. Like other members of the genus Melanotus, it is likely a soil-dwelling species with larvae that function as agricultural pests. The specific epithet "indistinctus" suggests it may be difficult to distinguish from related species. No iNaturalist observations are recorded for this species, indicating it is either rare, poorly surveyed, or taxonomically cryptic.
Melanotus infaustus
Melanotus infaustus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The genus Melanotus includes multiple wireworm species that are agricultural pests, though specific information about M. infaustus is limited. Related species in the genus are known as corn wireworms and are significant pests of potato and corn crops.
Melanotus insipiens
Melanotus insipiens is a small click beetle (Elateridae) native to the eastern United States. Its female-produced sex pheromone has been identified as decyl butanoate, enabling pheromone-based monitoring of this species. Adults are active above ground primarily in May and June, while immature stages are soil-dwelling. The species has been recorded as a pest of alsike clover and wheat in Georgia.
Melanotus lanceatus
Melanotus lanceatus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. As a member of the genus Melanotus, it shares characteristics with other wireworm beetles, whose larval forms are known agricultural pests. The species has been documented in taxonomic records but remains poorly studied compared to economically significant congeners such as Melanotus communis. No observations of this species have been recorded in community science databases.
Melanotus lanei
Melanotus lanei is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, first described by Quate in 1967. It belongs to the genus Melanotus, a group of wireworms and click beetles that includes several agricultural pest species. The species is part of a taxonomic group whose larvae (wireworms) are significant soil-dwelling pests of various crops. Specific ecological and biological details for M. lanei itself remain poorly documented in available literature.
Melanotus leonardi
Melanotus leonardi is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853. The genus Melanotus contains multiple species of wireworms, the soil-dwelling larval forms that are agricultural pests. Larvae of related Melanotus species, including M. communis, are known as corn wireworms and damage crop roots and tubers. Adults possess the characteristic click mechanism of Elateridae, using a prosternal process and mesosternal socket to produce an audible snapping sound.
Melanotus longulus
Melanotus longulus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, first described by LeConte in 1853. The species is part of the genus Melanotus, which includes several economically important wireworm species whose larvae damage agricultural crops. Two subspecies are recognized: M. l. longulus and M. l. oregonensis. Like other elaterids, adults possess the characteristic clicking mechanism for righting themselves when overturned.
Melanotus longulus longulus
Melanotus longulus longulus is a subspecies of click beetle in the family Elateridae. Like other members of the genus Melanotus, it belongs to a group commonly referred to as wireworms in their larval stage. The species is part of a complex of soil-dwelling beetles that are agricultural pests in North America. Limited specific information is available for this subspecies compared to the broader species complex.
Melanotus longulus oregonensis
Oregon Wireworm
Melanotus longulus oregonensis is a subspecies of click beetle in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Oregon Wireworm. As a wireworm, it represents the larval stage of development that is of agricultural significance. The species was described by LeConte in 1853. Wireworms in the genus Melanotus are soil-dwelling pests whose larvae feed on plant roots and underground plant parts, causing damage to various crops.
Melanotus miscellus
Melanotus miscellus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, described by Quate in 1967. It belongs to a genus containing several agricultural pest species whose larvae are known as wireworms. The species is recorded from Ontario and Québec, Canada. Specific ecological and biological details for M. miscellus remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Melanotus morosus
Melanotus morosus is a species of click beetle (family Elateridae) described by Candèze in 1860. It belongs to a genus containing agricultural pest species, though specific information about this particular species is limited. The genus Melanotus includes several economically important wireworm species whose larvae damage crop roots.
Melanotus opacicollis
Melanotus opacicollis is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, described by LeConte in 1866. The genus Melanotus includes numerous wireworm species whose larvae are agricultural pests, though specific information about this species is limited. As with other members of the genus, the larval stage likely lives in soil and may feed on plant roots.
Melanotus parallelus
Melanotus parallelus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The genus Melanotus contains numerous species of wireworms and click beetles, many of which are recognized as agricultural pests due to their soil-dwelling larval stages that feed on crop roots and tubers. This species is part of a taxonomically challenging genus where species identification often requires examination of fine morphological characters. Like other members of Elateridae, adults possess the distinctive clicking mechanism used to right themselves when overturned.
Melanotus pertinax
Melanotus pertinax is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The species was described by Say in 1839. Like other members of the genus Melanotus, it is a soil-dwelling beetle with larvae (wireworms) that feed on plant roots and underground plant parts. The genus includes several agricultural pest species, though specific documentation of M. pertinax as a crop pest appears limited in available sources.
Melanotus piceatus
click beetle, wireworm
Melanotus piceatus is a North American click beetle species in the family Elateridae. Adults are moderate-sized (11–12 mm), elongate, and dark red-brown to black. The species has been studied for its sex pheromone chemistry, with females producing (2Z,6E)-farnesyl acetate as the primary attractant compound. Larvae inhabit soil for extended periods, leading to a multiyear life cycle. Adults are active above-ground in spring and summer, with peak flight activity from May through June.
Melanotus pilosus
Melanotus pilosus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, described by Blatchley in 1910. The specific epithet 'pilosus' refers to the hairy appearance of the species. It belongs to a genus containing several economically important species, including the corn wireworm Melanotus communis, which is a significant agricultural pest. The biology of M. pilosus has been less studied compared to its congener M. communis.
Melanotus prasinus
Melanotus prasinus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, described by Blatchley in 1910. The species belongs to the genus Melanotus, a group of soil-dwelling beetles whose larvae are commonly known as wireworms. As with other members of this genus, the larvae are likely subterranean and feed on plant roots, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. The species has been recorded in Ontario, Canada.
Melanotus spadix
Melanotus spadix is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, first described by Erichson in 1841. It belongs to a genus containing several agricultural pest species whose larvae (wireworms) damage crop roots and tubers. The species has been recorded from Ontario, Canada, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in available literature.
Melanotus tenax
Melanotus tenax is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The genus Melanotus contains numerous species of wireworms, the soil-dwelling larval forms that are significant agricultural pests. Larvae feed on roots and tubers of crops, causing economic damage in agricultural systems. Adults are generally nocturnal and attracted to lights.
Melanotus trapezoideus
Melanotus trapezoideus is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853. The genus Melanotus contains several economically important wireworm species whose larval stages damage agricultural crops. Adults are characterized by their elongated bodies and ability to produce an audible clicking sound through a prosternal process that snaps into a mesosternal groove, a mechanism used for righting themselves when overturned. Specific biological details for M. trapezoideus remain poorly documented compared to congeneric pest species.
Melanotus verberans
click beetle
Melanotus verberans is a click beetle (family Elateridae) native to eastern North America. Adults are moderate-sized (9–12 mm), red-brown, and elongate. The larval stage consists of soil-dwelling wireworms that are significant agricultural pests, feeding on roots and tubers of various crops. Females produce a sex pheromone blend of 13-tetradecenyl acetate and 13-tetradecenyl hexanoate to attract males. Adult flight activity peaks from April through May.
Monocrepidius bellus
Beautiful Wireworm
Monocrepidius bellus, commonly known as the Beautiful Wireworm, is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The genus Monocrepidius belongs to a group of beetles whose larvae are known as wireworms, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented. The species has been recorded in citizen science observations, with over 1,700 iNaturalist records suggesting it is relatively detectable where it occurs. Its taxonomic placement within Elateridae indicates adult beetles possess the family's characteristic ability to right themselves from dorsal recumbency using a prosternal spine mechanism.
Monocrepidius falli
southern potato wireworm
Monocrepidius falli, commonly known as the southern potato wireworm, is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae. The larval stage is referred to as a wireworm, a soil-dwelling pest known for damaging agricultural crops. The species has been documented in 411 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is moderately well-recorded. Specific details regarding its biology and ecology remain limited in available sources.
Monocrepidius scissus
Peanut wireworm
Monocrepidius scissus is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the peanut wireworm. The common name reflects its larval form's association with peanut cultivation, where wireworm larvae can cause damage to developing crops. Adults are beetles with the characteristic body form of click beetles, capable of the jumping mechanism that gives the family its common name. The species has been documented across multiple observations, suggesting established populations in agricultural regions.
Monocrepidius vespertinus
tobacco wireworm
Monocrepidius vespertinus, commonly known as the tobacco wireworm, is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae. The common name refers to the larval stage, which is a soil-dwelling pest known for damaging agricultural crops. The species has been documented in agricultural systems where its larvae feed on plant roots and underground stems.
Monocrepidius xysticus
Atta-associated Wireworm
Monocrepidius xysticus is a species of click beetle in the family Elateridae, commonly known as the Atta-associated Wireworm. The species is known from 41 iNaturalist observations. As a member of Elateridae, it possesses the characteristic click mechanism for righting itself when overturned. The common name suggests an ecological association with leafcutter ants of the genus Atta, though the nature of this relationship requires further investigation.