Written by Charlotte Cunningham from CPM Magazine
Researchers from Rothamsted are asking farmers and growers with a wireworm problem to get in touch to help them develop new control methods. Wireworms, or click beetle larvae, are a major pest of cereals and root vegetables, and seed treatments and other contact insecticides are traditionally used to protect crops from feeding damage. However, these pesticides are being phased out in Europe, and it’s doubtful if a new soil insecticide could ever become available for wireworm management. In response to this, Rothamsted Research’s Dr Jozsef Vuts and Dr Gareth Thomas are investigating alternative methods of control. “Plants are constantly releasing chemicals into the air or the soil, and pest species have evolved to tune into these as a way of finding food,” says Jozef. “We can use that to our advantage by creating traps that lure the wireworms by emitting these very same ‘smells’. “These traps and non-toxic and provide an environmentally benign alternative for soil pest management. The main aim of our project is to develop wireworm management strategies based on attractive soil traps.” Monitoring and managing Blends of these attractant chemicals, applied as slow-release formulations for example, will help create pest monitoring and management systems for wireworms, circumventing…
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Researchers from Rothamsted are asking farmers and growers with a wireworm problem to get in touch to help them develop new control methods. Wireworms, or click beetle larvae, are a major pest of cereals and root vegetables, and seed treatments and other contact insecticides are traditionally used to protect crops from feeding damage. However, these pesticides are being phased out in Europe, and it’s doubtful if a new soil insecticide could ever become available for wireworm management. In response to this, Rothamsted Research’s Dr Jozsef Vuts and Dr Gareth Thomas are investigating alternative methods of control. “Plants are constantly releasing chemicals into the air or the soil, and pest species have evolved to tune into these as a way of finding food,” says Jozef. “We can use that to our advantage by creating traps that lure the wireworms by emitting these very same ‘smells’. “These traps and non-toxic and provide an environmentally benign alternative for soil pest management. The main aim of our project is to develop wireworm management strategies based on attractive soil traps.” Monitoring and managing Blends of these attractant chemicals, applied as slow-release formulations for example, will help create pest monitoring and management systems for wireworms, circumventing…
The post Farmers wanted for wireworm research project appeared first on cpm magazine.
Continue reading on CPM website...
If you are enjoying what you read then why not considering subscribing here: http://www.cpm-magazine.co.uk/subscribe/