Wireworm survey of small grain fields in Montana

Wireworms are an increasing threat to the sustainable production of small grains and other crops since the delisting of lindane as an insecticidal seed treatment. Lindane was used to effectively and inexpensively control wireworm damage to small grains for more than 30 years. During the spring of 2011 we surveyed the complex of wireworm species damaging commercial small grains crops in Montana. We used canister-type bait traps that we developed in 2010. These canisters are convenient since we can prepare them in the lab and mail them to collaborating producers who simply burry them an inch deep in their field, retrieve them 10-14 days later and return them to Montana State University in postage paid boxes. A press release and AgAlert to solicit interest was released during February 2011. We will present the results of this survey that will include identification of the species.