Climatic, Edaphic Factors and Cropping History Help Predict Click Beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) (Agriotesspp.) Abundance

Abstract

It is assumed that the abundance of Agriotes wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is affected by agro-ecological factors such as climatic and edaphic factors and the crop/previous crop grown at the sites investigated. The aim of this study, conducted in three different geographic counties in Croatia from 2007 to 2009, was to determine the factors that influence the abundance of adult click beetle of the species Agriotes brevis Cand., Agriotes lineatus (L.), Agriotes obscurus (L.), Agriotes sputator (L.), and Agriotes ustulatus Schall. The mean annual air temperature, total rainfall, percentage of coarse and fine sand, coarse and fine silt and clay, the soil pH, and humus were investigated as potential factors that may influence abundance. Adult click beetle emergence was monitored using sex pheromone traps (YATLORf and VARb3). Exploratory data analysis was preformed via regression tree models and regional differences in Agriotes species’ abundance were predicted based on the agro-ecological factors measured. It was found that the best overall predictor of A. brevis abundance was the previous crop grown. Conversely, the best predictor of A. lineatus abundance was the current crop being grown and the percentage of humus. The best predictor of A. obscurus abundance was soil pH in KCl. The best predictor of A. sputator abundance was rainfall. Finally, the best predictors of A. ustulatus abundance were soil pH in KCl and humus. These results may be useful in regional pest control programs or for predicting future outbreaks of these species.

Alternative Strategies for Controlling Wireworms in Field Crops: A Review

“…The risk of damage increased considerably when its value was greater than 5%. Kozina et al [24] reported that humus content (%), together with the current crop being grown, was the best predictor of high Agriotes lineatus abundance. They also found that soil pH was a strong predictor for the abundance of A. obscurus and A. ustulatus.…”

“…Building on the knowledge of risk factors, a range of models have been able to predict wireworm occurrence based on soil and meteorological data coupled with a hydrologic model [22]; click beetle abundance based on climatic and edaphic factors [24]; wireworm activity based on soil characteristics [21]; their abundance and community structure [53]; correlation between the damage caused in potato fields and landscape structure [56]; and to determine the key climate and agro-environmental factors impacting wireworm damage [23,25,52].…”

“…Varying the mixture formulation allows each species to be caught selectively or, alternatively, several of them to be attracted to the same trap [64]. Recently, several kinds of pheromone traps have been developed and used as research tools to monitor populations in both Europe and North America [24,26,65]. The female sex pheromones of most major European click-beetle pest species (A. brevis, A. lineatus, A. obscurus, A.proximus, A. rufipalpis, A. sordidus, A. sputator, A. ustulatus, A. litigiosus) have been characterized [64].…”

“…The presence of uncultivated area in the field history or in the field vicinity [22][23][24]56,199] is clearly identified as a risk source in terms of wireworm infestation and/or crop damage; hence, it is often considered by farmers (e.g., managing the crop rotation within a field). More generally, while landscape context has been identified as a risk factor (Section 2.1), habitat manipulation remains underused.…”

Impact of Environmental Conditions and Agrotechnical Factors on Ground Beetle Populations in Arable Crops

“…From the fields at investigation area, soil samples were taken from the depth of a plow layer (30 cm) and regional physical and chemical soil properties have been analysed. Performed pedological procedures are explained in details in Kozina et al (2015). Plant abundance is measured by plant cover, i.e., the relative projected area covered by a species (Kent and Coker, 1992).…”