Brown-breasted click beetle

Systematic position. The brown-breasted click beetle (Agriotes fuscicollis) belongs to the order Coleoptera and the family Elateridae. It is a significant soil-dwelling pest found primarily in steppe and forest-steppe zones, causing considerable economic losses to various agricultural sectors worldwide.

Host crops and damage. This beetle is a polyphagous pest. The larvae, commonly known as wireworms, damage a wide variety of crops including cereals, maize, sunflower, sugar beet, and potatoes. Wireworms feed on sown seeds, destroy germinating sprouts, and sever roots and stems at the base, leading to sparse crop stands and reduced yields.

Biology and development cycle. The complete development cycle of Agriotes fuscicollis spans several years. Adult beetles are active during spring and summer, feeding on leaves and shoots. However, the larvae are the most damaging stage. They live underground, passing through several instars and performing vertical migrations within the soil profile based on temperature and moisture levels, which complicates detection.

Conditions for damage. The pest activity is highest in areas with high soil moisture, such as low-lying fields and heavy, clay-rich soils. During dry periods, wireworms retreat into deeper soil layers. Once favorable conditions return, they migrate back to the rhizosphere, where they resume feeding on the root systems of young crops, causing wilting and death.

Control measures. Protecting crops against Agriotes fuscicollis requires an integrated pest management (IPM) approach.

• Deep autumn plowing with soil inversion.
• Crop rotation and avoiding high-risk hosts in infested fields.
• Liming acidic soils to discourage larval activity.
• Seed treatments with systemic insecticides.
• Applying granular insecticides during the planting process.