Status of Wireworms as Crop Pests and Their Management

Abstract

Investigations on Status of wireworms as crop pests and their management were newlinecarried out during 2019 and 2020 at farmer s fields to assess, wireworm incidence in newlinedifferent crops, yield loss estimation in sugarcane crop and evaluation of different newlinemanagement tactics against wireworm. newlineResults of survey reveled that, among the three districts of northern Karnataka, newlinethe highest incidence of wireworm grubs was recorded during July August at Dharwad newlinedistrict, and lowest incidence at Belagavi and Bagalkot districts. On the other hand, newlinehighest incidence of wireworm was recorded at Belagavi district during September- newlineOctober followed by Dharwad district and the lowest incidence at Bagalkot district. newlineFurther, results of fixed plot survey indicated that wireworm population commenced in newlinethe first fortnight of July with low density, thereafter increased gradually and reached its newlinepeak in the first fortnight of August and after that it showed a declining trend. Wireworm newlineoccurred on different crops viz., maize, groundnut, sugarcane, ginger and onion at newlinedifferent stages. Irrespective of crop, per cent incidence ranged between 20.93 and 37.16. newlineAdult emergence commenced from 9th Meteorological Standard Week (MSW) (March) newlineand continued up to 16th MSW (May). Irrespective of locations, peak emergence was newlinenoticed between 21st and 24th MSW (June). Further, two wireworm species were recorded newlinei.e., Agriotes species and Lanelater fuscipes (Fabricius). Lanelater fuscipes was recorded newlinefor the first time as pest of field crops from southern India. However, yield loss due to newlinewireworm infestation was quantified to be 29.09 tonnes per ha. Increase in yield in newlineprotected over unprotected plot was 42.77 per cent with avoidable yield loss of 29.99 per newlinecent. Among the different insecticide molecules, cent per cent mortality was observed newlinewith application of fipronil 0.3% GR, chlorantraniliprole 0.4% GR, imidacloprid newline40%+Fipronil 40% WG and fipronil 5% SC under green house conditions. Under field