Wireworms, various species in Limonius, Melanotus along with other genera, are the larvae of click beetles. These larvae range in size in 1/3 around 1 1/2 inches long, are yellowish to brown, possess a wire-like appearance and have three pairs of legs located just behind their mind. Wireworms feed on seeds, preventing germination, in addition to the underground roots, stems and tubers of a selection of plants, causing wilting and death. These pests are difficult to control completely, but a combination of excellent sanitation, crop rotation, trapping and, in some cases, pesticide use, can frequently sufficiently reduce wireworm presence.
Clear all desirable vegetation, weeds and organic thing debris, such as mulch, from the backyard at the end of every growing season, leaving the soil surface completely bare.
Cultivate the top 6 to 8 inches of soil with a rototiller, hoe or alternative soil-working implement.
Cultivate the top 2 inches of soil approximately two to three weeks following the deep tilling. If you have a space between growing seasons, it is possible to plant a cover crop or spread a layer of mulch over the soil surface for erosion control or other functions. Cultivate the garden shallowly again just before you plant your yearly vegetable and fruit crops.
Rotate plantings on your garden so that you don’t cultivate the same sort of plant at the same spot every year. Wireworms prefer to feed on sweet potatoes, potatoes, beets, onions, carrots, snap beans, peas, corn, lettuce, strawberries and muskmelons, so rotate these plants with other forms of plants which the wireworms don’t prefer.
Apply a pesticide which has chlorpyrifos or is otherwise labeled for wireworm control in the home garden according to manufacturer’s directions. Only preventive treatment is possible. Normally the substance is broadcast over the ground and worked shallowly into the ground immediately before planting or it is used in seed holes or furrows at the time of planting.
Trap and destroy wireworms using potatoes or carrots. Cut potatoes into sections, spear each part with a stick and bury a potato piece 2 to 4 inches deep every 3 to 10 feet throughout the garden. Leave a portion of the stick visible above ground, dig up the potato pieces once per week, destroy the potato pieces with any wireworms feeding indoors and bury new potato sections. The same process works using full-grown carrots instead of potato pieces.