Seasonal Vertical Movement of Wireworm Larvae in Missouri: Influence of Soil Temperature on the Genera Melanotus Escholtz and Conoderus Escholtz1

Abstract

The seasonal vertical movement and distribution of Elaterid larvae was observed in a cornfield near Columbia, MO during 1971–1972. The seasonal vertical movement of Melanotus may be cyclic whereas the seasonal vertical movement of Conoderus may not be cyclic but is coincident with soil temperature. The results also indicate that wireworm damage to corn seeds and seedlings in central Missouri may be primarily attributed to larvae of the genus Melanotus .