Title: Species composition, harmfulness and eradication of wireworms (Coleoptera; Elateridae) in potato cultivation

Financing institution: Scientific Research Committee (KBN)

Implementation period: 5.04. 2006 – 4 April 2007

Name and role of employees: prof. dr hab. Michał Hurej, project manager

MSc. Tomasz Erlichowski, main performer

Place of implementation: IHAR in Radzików, Department of Seed and Potato Protection in Bonin

Cost (project value): PLN 49,000

Aim: The aim of the study was to learn the species structure and colonization of arable soils by important potato pests from the Elateridae family together with the possibility of quick analysis of pest larvae detection and the use of effective methods of combating them.

Results achieved and list of publications:

As a result of the research (as part of the promoter project) in Bonin, Niekłonice and Czarnośyce, the larvae were represented by 6 species, while beetles by 8 species Elateridae.

The higher numbers of larvae from soil opencasts in Niekłonice and Bonin were probably due to earlier agrotechnics and crop rotation, strawberry was grown there in a 5-year monoculture (Niekłonice) and cereals (Bonin), which were heavily weeded mainly with wheat, which was conducive to the occurrence of pests. In all locations, the number of larvae was high and the hazard thresholds developed for this developmental stage were exceeded. The potato agrocenoses studied were dominated by the phytophagous larvae of the dark seed drill – Agriotes obscurus and the roller seed drill A. lineatus. The second in terms of the number of larvae caught in Bonin was coypu (Hemicrepidius niger). The minority were the larvae of A. sputator. There were few larvae of the metallic gland Selatosomus aeneus and gout of Agripnus murinus (harmless species in potato crops). In the surface layer of arable soil (0-15 cm), most of the Elateridae larvae collected in spring (from 77.3 to 81.2%). The deeper layer (15-30 cm) was preferred mainly by the species Hemicrepidius niger L., which also feeds on animal food. The detection efficiency of larvae using bait traps (as a new monitoring method) in Bonin and Niekłonice was higher compared to the method of soil opencasts. Using the phenomenon of concentration of phytophagous larvae in the vicinity of germinating grain (the effect of germination was the release of CO2 and metabolites), on bait traps, an average of twice as many larvae were detected as compared to the traditional method. The susceptibility of the 10 potato varieties tested to damage caused by Elateridae larvae was mainly associated with their genotypic features (with chemical composition, in particular with the content of glycoalkaloids in tubers). The following varieties were distinguished: susceptible to damage caused by larvae: Vitara, Denar, Bard, Mila and Bryza; medium susceptible: Sail, Neptune and resistant: Pomeranian Passion and Koga. The Pyrinex 480 EC soil treatment agent was the most effective control treatment, effectively reducing the number of larvae. In Niekłonice the effectiveness of the procedure was high 75%. In Bonin, it was 85%. Treatment of tubers with insecticide-fungicide mortar during planting (imidacloprid + pencycuron) reduced the occurrence of wireworms in the soil by 70% in 4 weeks after applying the mortar, while the effectiveness of the treatment compared to the control was at the level of 75%.

List of publications:

  1. Erlichowski T. 2007. Species composition, harmfulness and control of wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in potato cultivation. Doctoral dissertation, IHAR ZNiOZ Bonin, 94 pp.
  2. Erlichowski T. 2006. Species composition and harmfulness of phytophagous larvae of the beetle family (Col., Elateridae) in potato crops located near Bonin. Threshold. Plant Prot. / Progress in Plant Protection, 46 (2): 409-413
  3. Erlichowski T. 2007. New methods for monitoring and controlling soil pests in potato crops. Village of Tomorrow 2 (103): 4-6
  4. Erlichowski T. 2007. Soil pests in potato cultivation – threat, occurrence and control methods. Polish Potato No. 2: 33-38.
  5. Erlichowski T. 2008. Economic significance and factors conditioning the development and harmfulness of soil pests in potato crops. Village of Tomorrow 2 (115): 16-19.
  6. Erlichowski T. 2008. New methods for detection and monitoring of wireworms (Elateridae) in potato cultivation. Peanuts. Half. No. 2: 35-38.
  7. Erlichowski T. 2009. New methods for detecting the presence of elastic (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in potato crops using bait and pheromone traps. Threshold. Plant Prot./Post. in Plant Protection 49 (4): 1691-1699.
  8. Erlichowski T. 2010. Susceptibility of different potato varieties to damage to tubers caused by Elbowidae and use of this phenomenon in organic and integrated cultivation. Threshold. Plant Prot./Post. in Plant Protection 50 (3): 1230-1235
  9. Erlichowski T. 2011. Spatial distribution and severity of tuber damage caused by larvae (Elateridae) on potato plantations. Threshold. Plant Protection / Post. Prot. Plant 51 (3): 1104-1108.
  10. Erlichowski T. 2011. Control of wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in potatoes using a chlorpyrifos-containing agent. Threshold. Plant Protection / Post. Prot. Plant 51 (3): 1355-1359.
  11. Erlichowski T. 2011. Prestige Forte 370 FS – effective in controlling soil pests. Polish Potato No. 2: 27-28.
  12. Erlichowski T. 2011. The susceptibility of potato varieties to tuber damages caused by wireworms (Elateridae) and its use in the integrated pest management. Book of Abstracts, Conference “Sustainable use of pesticides in Integrated Pest Management in East-
  13. Central Europe and the Baltics”; September 4-6, 2011, IHAR-PIB Radzików, Poland: 74