CLICK BEETLE

Adult wireworms are about a half to 3/4ths inch in size, and colored reddish brown to black. They are the larvae of click beetles, which can bend its body backwards and then quickly straighten it to create an audible snap.

Damage

The click beetle will feed on buds during the spring. The click beetle is a day feeder, and it emerges in the spring on warm days, feeding mostly on the roots of vegetables. Click beetles may be seen in relatively large numbers resting on crops during the day. even high populations in vineyards seldom cause economic damage to the grapes. They are a serious pest on potatoes, grains, sugarbeets, tomatoes, spinach, cotton, and corn. Beneficial nematodes are the best control.

Larva Only

Life Cycle

It takes about 3 to 4 years for the wireworm or click beetle to complete its life cycle. Most of the life span is spent in the larval stage, but all stages may be present at once. The larvae stage lives in the soil. The larvae are usually the most damaging phase, but for grapes the adult click beetle can be damaging. It can overwinter in the ground and scattered debris.