The Economic Wireworms of The Pacific Northwest (Elateridae)

Abstract

This paper purposes to treat in a general way the damage caused by the three species of wireworms of principal economic importance in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, namely, the inflated wireworm, Ludilts inflatus Say, the dry-land wireworm, Ludius noxius Hyslop, and the wet-land wireworm, Pheletes occidentalis Candeze. The paper brings out interesting ecological data which show each of these species inhabits a separate region under distinct environmental conditions, as regards rainfall and moisture content of the soil. A general life history is given for the dry-land wireworm, showing the total life cycle of this species to be four Dr more years. A brief summary is given of the damage caused by the wet-land wireworm under irrigated farming conditions together with some interesting facts about the habits of this species during recent years. The final purpose of the paper is to show that more comprehensive basic ecological studies of the many species of wireworms should be made, with much more time and care given to them than in the past. With a more thorough knowledge of the many ecological factors involved in the increase of wireworm infestations and damage, there should be found some satisfactory answer to the oft repeated question, “How can we get rid of wireworms?”