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Wireworms are primary pests of potatoes in Canada. Presently, the highly toxic organophosphate phorate (i.e., Thimet 20G) is the only effective insecticide in use in Canada. As such, there is an urgent need for novel alternative treatments that provide competitive tuber blemish protection and wireworm reduction with a safer human and environmental portfolio. Herein we evaluated broflanilide, a novel meta-diamide insecticide for both tuber protection and wireworm mortality. When evaluated in field trials in Agassiz, British Columbia over 6 yr, broflanilide applied as a seed piece treatment (SPT) to mother tubers at 1.5-2.0 g AI/100 kg seed (approx. 50 g AI/ha), or as an in-furrow spray (IFS) at 0.23-0.25 g AI/100 m row (approx. 25 g AI/ha) was as effective at reducing blemishes to daughter tubers by wireworms (Agriotes obscurus) as phorate (Thimet 20G at 3230 g AI/ha), bifenthrin (Capture 2EC IFS at 300 g AI/ha) and clothianidin (Titan ST at 312.5 g AI/ha). In addition, broflanilide SPT and IFS applied at the above rates reduced resident wireworms (in the field at the time of planting) by 95.4-99.0% and neonate wireworms (produced from eggs laid during the growing season) by 98.1-100%. Similar results were obtained when broflanilide IFS (nonsystemic) was paired with clothianidin SPT (systemic) for broad-spectrum potato insect pest control. Strategies for the use of broflanilide on wheat (e.g., Teraxxa F4) in rotation with potatoes (Cimegra), both registered in Canada in 2020 are discussed., (© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2022.)

Following the deregistration of lindane, several neonicotinoid insecticides have been registered as seed treatments for controlling wireworms in cereal crops. Unlike lindane, which did both, neonicotinoids provide crop protection but do not reduce wireworm populations. Hence populations of various economic species are growing in key wheat production areas of the United States and Canada, and there is a need for novel seed treatments that match the efficacy of lindane. Herein we evaluated broflanilide, a novel GABA-gated Cl- channel allosteric modulator that differs from the cyclodienes (e.g., lindane) in that it binds to a unique site in the GABA receptor. As such, broflanilide confers a new mode of insecticidal action (Group 30 MOA), and is the first meta-diamide insecticide developed. When evaluated in field trials over 7 yr at various rates, broflanilide at 5.0 g [AI]/100 kg wheat seed was as effective at protecting wheat stand from wireworm (Agriotes obscurus) injury as the current industry standard thiamethoxam at 20-30 g [AI]/100 kg seed. In addition, broflanilide at 5.0 g reduced neonate wireworms (produced from eggs laid in established wheat during the growing season) and resident wireworms (in the field at time of planting) by 73.1 and 81.1%, respectively, which is comparable to that reported for the previous industry standard lindane (75.3 and 57.6%, respectively). These studies show that broflanilide at 5.0 g [AI] will provide consistent wheat stand protection (equal to thiamethoxam at 20-30 g [AI]), and A. obscurus wireworm population reduction (equal to lindane at 59 g [AI]), and will do so at far lower dosages per hectare., (© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture, 2021.)

The efficacy of various insecticides and application methods in protecting potatoes from wireworm (Agriotes obscurus L.) damage as well as reducing wireworm populations was studied over 5 yr in Agassiz, British Columbia. Protection from wireworm damage was measured by the number of blemishes to daughter tubers, and effects on wireworm populations were measured by sampling soil around seed potatoes and/or by bait traps the following spring. Organophosphates registered for wireworm control in the United States and/or Canada (phorate and chlorpyrifos), significantly reduced blemishes to tubers by, respectively, 92.2 and 90.2%, and populations of large (> or = 9 mm long = 'resident') wireworms by 83.4 and 71.0% relative to controls. Similar reductions in smaller (< 9 mm long = 'neonate') wireworms were also observed. Neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam) tested as seed piece treatments at approximately 12.5 g active ingredient/100 kg potato seed reduced blemishes by, respectively, 19.1, 71.6, and 90.6%, but resident wireworms were only reduced by, respectively, 22.0, 29.1, and 51.8%. Significant mortality of neonates was not observed with any neonicotinoid treatment. With the possible exception of thiamethoxam, where significant reduction in resident wireworms occurred, it is likely that the blemish protection provided without significant wireworm mortality with imidacloprid and clothianidin treatments was because of long-term wireworm intoxication followed by population recovery. The phenyl pyrazole, fipronil, applied as an in-furrow spray reduced blemishes by 94.3%, and resident wireworm populations could not be detected in plots the following spring. Neonates were reduced by 93.3%, indicating excellent residual conotrol had occurred with fipronil. These studies indicate that tuber protection by fipronil and currently registered organophosphates is likely because of significant early season mortality of wireworms, whereas neonicotinoids generally provide control through long-term morbidity without high levels of mortality occurring.

The efficacy of various insecticidal seed treatments in protecting wheat, Triticum aestivum L., from wireworm damage as well as reducing wireworm (Coleoptera: Elateridae) populations was studied over 3 yr. Protection from wireworm damage was measured by postplanting stand counts, and effects on wireworm populations were measured by within-row core samples and by bait traps placed in plots the following spring. The effects of treatments on populations of larger wireworms already present at planting were distinguished from their effects on neonate wireworms produced that growing season. Neonicotinoid seed treatments (imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam) provided excellent wheat stand protection, likely through prolonged wireworm intoxication, but populations of larger and neonate wireworms were not significantly reduced in bait traps the following spring. The pyrethroid tefluthrin, applied to seed with and without a neonicotinoid insecticide (thiamethoxam), provided excellent crop protection, but populations of wireworms also were not significantly reduced. This and additional laboratory data suggest that wheat stand establishment provided by tefluthrin is due to a combination of repulsion and short term morbidity events. The phenyl pyrazole fipronil provided excellent crop protection, and populations of both larger and neonate wireworms could not be detected in plots the following spring. The previously registered organochlorine lindane, although reducing wireworm feeding, was phytotoxic in 2 of 3 yr. Next to fipronil, lindane was the most consistent seed treatment in reducing populations of larger and neonate wireworms. These studies indicate that stand and yield protection provided by contemporary wheat seed treatments cannot automatically be equated with wireworm population mortality. This is an important consideration when choosing a suitable seed treatment to replace lindane, which historically provided both stand protection and wireworm reduction, and did not have to be applied every year.

A bioassay for observing wireworm behavior in soil is described. The bioassay permits analysis of orientation, feeding, repellency, and postcontact toxicity behaviors of wireworms in response to insecticide-treated wheat seeds. Wireworm positions were recorded every 5 min for 3 h, and the time required to orient to and contact seeds, and the duration of individual feeding events, was calculated. Both avoidance (before contact with seeds) and repellency (after contact) were quantified. A high proportion of Agriotes obscurus (0.95), Limonius canus (1.00), Ctenicera pruinina (0.80), Melanotus communis/dietrichi (0.80), and Hypolithus sp. (0.70) larvae contacted untreated wheat seeds and began feeding within 120 min when seeds were preincubated for 60 min in soil with 20% moisture. A smaller proportion of A. obscurus contacted seeds if seeds were not incubated in the bioassay before wireworm introduction (0.80) or in soil with 10% moisture (0.65). L. canus larvae required a significantly shorter time (25.3 min) to contact seeds if seeds were incubated for 60 min than if seeds were not incubated before wireworm introduction (43.1 min). Wireworms exposed to untreated seeds and seeds treated with the fungicide Dividend XLRTA fed normally (i.e., sustained feeding for at least 60 min), but a significant proportion of wireworms exposed to seeds treated with Tefluthrin 20 CS (containing the synthetic pyrethroid tefluthrin) fed for 15 min or less and were subsequently repelled. Wireworms exposed to Vitavax Dual (containing the organochlorine lindane) were not repelled after feeding and showed symptoms of illness for up to 28 d before making a full recovery (89%) or dying (11%).

Agriotes obscurus (L.) wireworms assembled in increasing numbers at rows of treated (Agrox DL Plus seed treatment) and untreated wheat, Triticum aestivum L., planted at increasing densities (0, 0.15, 0.30, and 0.60 seeds/cm). In treated wheat plots at all planting densities, no wireworm damage to seedlings was apparent, and total wireworms taken in core samples in wheat rows increased according to the asymptotic equation y = B0(1 -e(-Blx)), where B0 is the asymptote, B1 is the slope of the initial rise, and x is the seeding density. The number of dead wireworms in treated plots increased linearly and intercepted the asymptotic models (theoretical point at which 100% mortality of assembled population occurs) at 0.95 seeds/cm on 11 June and 1.14 seeds/cm on 18 June 1996. Untreated wheat at all densities planted had severe wireworm damage and significantly reduced stand. Populations that had assembled at the surviving untreated wheat were fewer than in the treated wheat plots, and although increasing with seeding density, did not follow the asymptotic model. The data suggest that A. obscurus populations can be assembled and killed in fallowed fields in large numbers at treated trap crops of wheat over a 19-d period when planted in rows spaced 1 m apart at a linear seeding density of 1.5 seeds/cm.

Acute toxicities of three naturally occurring monoterpenoid essential oil constituents and the essential oil of rosemary were tested against late instars of Agriotes obscurus (L.) (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Both contact and volatile toxicities of thymol, citronellal, eugenol, and rosemary oil were determined. Also, phytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated on corn germination and seedling development. Thymol had the greatest contact toxicity (LD50 = 196.0 microg/larva), whereas citronellal and eugenol were less toxic (LD50 = 404.9 and 516.5 microg/larva, respectively). Rosemary oil did not show any significant contact toxicity, even at 1,600 microg/larva. In terms of volatile toxicity, citronellal was the most toxic to wireworm larvae (LC50 = 6.3 microg/cm3) followed by rosemary oil (LC50 = 15.9 microg/cm3), thymol (LC50 = 17.1 microg/cm3), and eugenol (LC50 = 20.9 microg/cm3). Thymol, eugenol, and citronellal significantly inhibited corn seed germination and development, whereas rosemary oil had only minimal phytotoxic effects.

The persistence and retention of active ingredients in granules of Thimet 15G (phorate 15% by weight), Dyfonate 10G (fonofos 10% by weight), Counter 15G (terbufos 15% by weight), and Furadan 10G (carbofuran 10% by weight) were determined in silt loam and organic muck agricultural soils typical of the lower Fraser River valley (BC, Canada). In June 1995, treatment bags made of polyester cloth (7.5 x 7.5 cm) containing granules of a single insecticide, either alone or with soil, were placed during spring planting in the bottom of the furrow and retrieved periodically until April 1996. The parent component of each insecticide declined monotonically except for carbofuran (logistic decline). In the silt loam (organic muck) soil, the average June-to-October first-order rate constants and half-lives were 0.009 (0.010)/d and 80 (71) d for fonofos, 0.012 (0.009)/d and 58 (82) d for phorate, and 0.032 (0.015)/d and 21 (47) d for terbufos; the half-life of carbofuran was 129 (97) d. By December, the average amounts of fonofos and phorate in silt loam (organic muck) were 26% (range: 17-40%; 14% [range: 3.4-21%]) and 21% (range: 15-30%; 10% [range: 5.0-24%]) of the initial amounts of active ingredients measured at time zero, respectively. By April, the percentages dropped to 16% (range: 7.8-24%; 2.3% [range: 0-7.7%]) and 7.3% (range: 1.9-25%; 0.6% [range: 0-1.9%]). During this period, about 95% of the active ingredients were granule bound, the rest remaining in the bag. Only low levels of terbufos and carbofuran persisted in both soils from December to April of the following year. Results indicate an enhanced probability for poisoning of waterfowl and raptors because of the high levels of active ingredients retained on granules of all four insecticides in both soils in the fall. The risk of acute poisoning by phorate and fonofos continued though the winter.

Following the deregistration of lindane, several neonicotinoid insecticides have been registered as seed treatments for controlling wireworms in cereal crops. Unlike lindane, which did both, neonicotinoids provide crop protection but do not reduce wireworm populations. Hence populations of various economic species are growing in key wheat production areas of the United States and Canada, and there is a need for novel seed treatments that match the efficacy of lindane. Herein we evaluated broflanilide, a novel GABA-gated Cl- channel allosteric modulator that differs from the cyclodienes (e.g. lindane) in that it binds to a unique site in the GABA receptor. As such, broflanilide confers a new mode of insecticidal action (Group 30 MOA), and is the first meta-diamide insecticide developed. When evaluated in field trials over 7 yr at various rates, broflanilide at 5.0 g [AI]/100 kg wheat seed was as effective at protecting wheat stand from wireworm (Agriotes obscurus) injury as the current industry standard thiamethoxam at 20–30 g [AI]/100 kg seed. In addition, broflanilide at 5.0 g reduced neonate wireworms (produced from eggs laid in established wheat during the growing season) and resident wireworms (in the field at time of planting) by 73.1 and 81.1%, respectively, which is comparable to that reported for the previous industry standard lindane (75.3 and 57.6%, respectively). These studies show that broflanilide at 5.0 g [AI] will provide consistent wheat stand protection (equal to thiamethoxam at 20–30 g [AI]), and A. obscurus wireworm population reduction (equal to lindane at 59 g [AI]), and will do so at far lower dosages per hectare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireworms, the larvae of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), have had a centuries-long role as major soil insect pests worldwide. With insecticidal control options dwindling, research on click beetle biology and ecology is of increasing importance in the development of new control tactics. Methodological improvements have deepened our understanding of how larvae and adults spatially and temporarily utilize agricultural habitats and interact with their environment. This progress, however, rests with a few pest species, and efforts to obtain comparable knowledge on other economically important elaterids are crucial. There are still considerable gaps in our understanding of female and larval ecology; movement of elaterids within landscapes; and the impact of natural enemies, cultivation practices, and environmental change on elaterid population dynamics. This knowledge will allow generation of multifaceted control strategies, including cultural, physical, and chemical measures, tailored toward species complexes and crops across a range of appropriate spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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