Grey false wireworm
Isopteran spp.
Other common names
Small false wireworm
Photo by Cesar Australia
Summary Top
False wireworms (or mealworms) are common, soil-inhabiting pests of newly sown winter and summer crops that can become a sporadic pest in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. The grey false (or small) wireworm is one of a few groups of false wireworms found in Australia. Larvae are brown or black and grow to about 10 mm long with two prominent upturned spines on the end of the last segment. They are a pest of canola, in particular when germination is slowed by continued dry weather. Carabid beetle predators, trash removal techniques, insecticide seed treatments and use of press wheels at sowing may all reduce false wireworm populations.
Occurrence Top
Grey false wireworms (sometimes called the small false wireworm) are native to Australia and have been recorded in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. They are widespread but only occur as a sporadic pest. They are commonly found in cracking clays or grey clay soils.
Grey false wireworms are commonly found in cracking clays or grey clay soils and can become a pest of canola, in particular when germination is slowed due to continued dry weather.
Description Top
Larvae are shiny brown – black on top with paler under-surface. They have elongated and cylindrical bodies that are somewhat flattened towards the head. They have two prominent upturned spines on the end of the last body segment. Fully grown larvae only reach 10-12 mm in length and approximately 1.5 mm in width. When larvae are disturbed they lay motionless for a few seconds and then move around rapidly; their shiny reflective bodies becoming more evident in the sun. Adult beetles are brown or dark brown and grow to approximately 8 mm long. NB. This species was previously known as Isoperon punctatissimus.
Lifecycle Top
Grey false wireworms usually complete only one generation per year, with soil temperature and moisture being the limiting factors.
Adults emerge from the soil in December and January, shelter under organic material and in soil, and lay eggs in or just below the soil surface among crop litter. Hence, larvae are most commonly found in stubble-retained paddocks. Eggs hatch 7-14 days later. Larvae are found in loose clusters within the top 10-20 mm of moist soil and feed on soil organic matter. Larvae develop over autumn, winter and spring, and when fully grown, burrow deeper where they pupate. Adults emerge in late spring or early summer.
Behaviour Top
Larvae of most false wireworm species prefer to feed on decaying stubble and soil organic matter. When the soil is reasonably moist, the larvae are likely to aggregate in the top 10-20 mm where plant litter is amassed. However, when the soil dries, the larvae move down through the soil profile, remaining in or close to the subsoil moisture, and occasionally venturing back to the soil surface to feed. Feeding often occurs at night when the soil surface becomes dampened by dew.
Nothing is known of the conditions that trigger false wireworms to switch from feeding on organic matter to feeding on plants. Significant damage is likely to be associated with soils that remain dry for extensive periods of time. Larvae are likely to stop feeding on organic matter when it dries out, and feed on the crop plants when they provide the most accessible source of moisture.
Similar to Top
Larvae are very similar to the bronzed field beetle (8-10 mm) and may also be confused with true wireworms (flattened tail segment) or the eastern false wireworm (20-50 mm with no tail spines). Adults may also look slightly similar to carabid beetles.
Crops attacked Top
Canola, particularly on fine textured soils.
Damage Top
Grey false wireworm larvae attack germinating seed and emerging seedlings. They chew hypocotyls, ring bark stems at ground level and sever plant roots, which can eventually cause seedling death. Damage appears as large bare patches and patchy seedling emergence. Re-sowing of severely damaged crops may be required. The injury to the seedlings makes them susceptible to dehydration and disease infection. Feeding damage is often most severe when germination is slowed by continued dry weather.
Monitor Top
Grey false wireworms often recur within the same area of a paddock from year to year. Paddocks that will be sown to canola should be monitored from late autumn onwards. Check under stubble prior to sowing or use pitfall traps. Monitoring should continue soon after canola is sown by digging an area approximately 30 x 30 cm and counting the number of larvae in the top 20 mm of soil. Repeat this process 10 times across the paddock to get a representative sample.
Germinating seed baits are also an effective option to assess the presence of the grey false wireworms and can be used immediately following the autumn break. Soak wheat seed in water to initiate germination. Then bury several seeds under 1 cm of soil at each corner of a 5 x 5 m square grid. Immediately after seedling emergence, re-visit the bait site, dig up the plants and count the number of larvae present. Repeat this at 5 locations per 100 ha to obtain an estimate of numbers. For a brief demonstration of a comparable process in summer crops, see this link.
Economic thresholds Top
Canola:
• VIC: 50 larvae per m2 (Dunn & Miles 2000)
• NSW: 35-50 larvae per m2 (Berlandier & Baker 2007)
Winter cereals:
• VIC: 100 larvae per m2 (Dunn & Miles 2008)
• NSW: >50 larvae per m2 (Berlandier & Baker 2007)
Management options Top
Biological
Carabid beetles are known predators of soil-dwelling insects including grey false wireworm larvae. However, they are usually not present in high enough numbers to effectively control large pest populations. Additional natural enemies include spiders, native earwigs and other predatory beetles. Fungal diseases caused by Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana can attack false wireworm populations but their effectiveness in the field is not fully understood (Allsopp 1980).
Cultural
Stubble retention and minimum tillage are thought to contribute to the build-up of grey false wireworm populations. Removal of trash is an effective management strategy. Methods of stubble removal may include cutting, baling, grazing or burning. Clean cultivation over summer will starve adults and larvae by exposing them to hot dry conditions, thus preventing population increases.
Use press wheels at sowing, which are set at 2-4 kg per cm width after planting rain or 4-8 kg per cm in dry soil. Post-sowing compaction using tyre rollers can also improve seedling vigour and reduce soil cracks, limiting the movement of grey false wireworm larvae. Consider sowing a pulse crop if high populations of false wireworms are present. Increasing the seeding rate if sowing canola into a paddock known to contain grey false wireworms. Suitable crop rotations may also limit increases in population numbers.
Reseeding with higher seeding rates may be an option in bare areas. Using a re-sowing method that disturbs the soil surface, leaving larvae vulnerable to predation, is recommended.
Carabid beetle predators, trash removal techniques, insecticide seed treatments and use of press wheels at sowing may all reduce damage by false wireworms.
Chemical
See the APVMA website for current chemical options. Chlorpyrifos is registered as a foliar spray against false wireworms in certain broadacre crops in some states. Several insecticide seed treatments are also registered for false wireworm control in certain broadacre crops in some states. Most chemicals registered for false wireworm control are seed treatments, although these may not be consistently reliable. They probably work best when the seedling grows rapidly in relatively moist soils. Adults may also be controlled with insecticide incorporated into baits if damage occurs after sowing. Otherwise, if damage occurs after sowing, no treatment is available, other than re-sowing bare patches with an insecticide treatment.
False wireworm can not be controlled by applying chemicals after sowing; monitoring before sowing is recommended
Acknowledgements Top
This article was compiled by Paul Umina (cesar), Sandra Hangartner and Garry McDonald (cesar). Richard Lloyd and Tonia Grundy (Queensland Department of Agriculture) produced the YouTube video.
References/Further Reading Top
Allsopp, PG. 1980. The biology of false wireworms and their adults (soil-inhabiting Tenebrionidae) (Coleoptera): a review. Bulletin of Entomological Research 70, 343–379.
Bailey PT. 2007. Pests of field crops and pastures: Identification and Control. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, Australia.
Bellati J, Mangano P, Umina P and Henry K. (2012). I SPY. Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems Identification Manual and Education Resource. Department of Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA), the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) and cesar Pty Ltd.
Berlandier FA and Baker GJ. 2007. Winter oilseeds. In: Pests of field crops and pastures: identification and control. (ed. PT Bailey) pp 135-154. CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.
Curtis JE and Horne PA. 1995. Effects of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin applications on non-target invertebrates in a conservation tillage crop. Australian Journal of Entomology 34, 229-231.
Dunn C, Miles M. 2000. Insectopedia. Agriculture Victoria. ISBN 0 7311 4706 5
Gu H, Fitt GP and Baker GH. 2007. Invertebrate pests of canola and their management in Australia: a review. Australian Journal of Entomology 46, 231–243.
McDonald G. 1995. Wireworms and False Wireworms in Field Crops. Agriculture Notes (Ag0411). Department of Primary Industries, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Miles M. 1997. False wireworm: an emerging pest of canola in Victoria’s Wimmera. The Regional Institute, Gosford, NSW. Proceedings of the 3rd Brisbane Workshop on Soil Invertebrates, pp. 138–139.
Miles M and McDonald G. 1999. False wireworm: an emerging pest of canola in Southern Australia. 10th International Rapeseed Congress, Canberra.
| Date | Version | Author(s) | Reviewed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2015 | 1.0 | Paul Umina (cesar), Sandra Hangartner and Garry McDonald (cesar) | Bill Kimber (SARDI) |
| March 2016 | 1.1 | Garry McDonald (cesar) | Bill Kimber (SARDI) |
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