Wireworms’ Management: An Overview of the Existing Methods, with Particular Regards to Agriotes spp. (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

in Insects (2013), 4(1), 117-152

Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are important soil dwelling pests worldwide causing yield losses in many crops. The progressive restrictions in the matter of efficient synthetic chemicals for health ... [more ▼]

Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are important soil dwelling pests worldwide causing yield losses in many crops. The progressive restrictions in the matter of efficient synthetic chemicals for health and environmental care brought out the need for alternative management techniques. This paper summarizes the main potential tools that have been studied up to now and that could be applied together in integrated pest management systems and suggests guidelines for future research. [less ▲]

Volatile organic compounds released by barley roots attract wireworms

Poster (2012, August)

Wireworms, the soil dwelling larvae of click beetles, are pests of many crops worldwide. Alternatives to insecticide treatments are needed for integrated management strategies. Our work consists in ... [more ▼]

Wireworms, the soil dwelling larvae of click beetles, are pests of many crops worldwide. Alternatives to insecticide treatments are needed for integrated management strategies. Our work consists in elucidating the role of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) root-emitted volatile organic compounds (VOC) on the orientation behaviour of Agriotes sordidus Illiger wireworms (Fig. 1). Using dual choice olfactometers, we have evaluated the attractiveness of baits ranging from barley roots themselves to one isolated root-emitted volatile organic compound. [less ▲]

Volatile organic compounds released by barley roots attract wireworms

Poster (2012, February 10)

Wireworms are the soil dwelling larvae of click beetles and are pests of many crops worldwide. Alternatives to insecticide treatments are needed in order to develop integrated management strategies. Our ... [more ▼]

Wireworms are the soil dwelling larvae of click beetles and are pests of many crops worldwide. Alternatives to insecticide treatments are needed in order to develop integrated management strategies. Our work consists in elucidating the role of barley root-emitted volatile organic compounds on the orientation behaviour of Agriotes sordidus wireworms. Using a dual choice olfactometer we have evaluated the attractiveness of a variety of baits ranging from barley roots themselves to isolated root-emitted volatile organic compounds. Wireworms were significantly attracted towards most of the tested baits. Our results should be taken into account in varietal selection, in crop rotation, or in trapping systems aiming at the reduction of the populations of this pest. [less ▲]

Les volatils racinaires de l’orge : un langage souterrain ?

Scientific conference (2011, October 13)

Cette présentation résume les avancées du projet Rhizovol après une année de travaux de recherche.

Attraction of wireworms towards root-emitted volatile organic compounds of barley

Poster (2011, August)

Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are soil dwelling pests of many crops. Aldrin and lindane used to provide satisfactory treatment levels of infested lands. Their withdrawal from the market for ... [more ▼]

Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are soil dwelling pests of many crops. Aldrin and lindane used to provide satisfactory treatment levels of infested lands. Their withdrawal from the market for environmental issues gave birth to new needs in terms of management. In order to enhance integrated management of this pest, we work on the chemical ecology of Agriotes sordidus Illiger. We focus on its interaction with barley roots, mediated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Our experimentations are based on behavioural responses of wireworms in olfactometric devices and their statistical relevance [less ▲]

Attraction of wireworms to root-emitted volatile organic compounds of barley

Conference (2011, June 20)

The ability of wireworms (Agriotes sordidus Illiger) to orientate towards a blend of volatiles emitted by chopped roots of barley was tested. During individual tests, the larvae chose between the two ... [more ▼]

The ability of wireworms (Agriotes sordidus Illiger) to orientate towards a blend of volatiles emitted by chopped roots of barley was tested. During individual tests, the larvae chose between the two sides of a Y-shaped olfactometer. One side was connected to a chamber containing the chopped roots and the other was connected to an empty chamber. Wireworms chose significantly more often the side of the olfactometer providing the blend of root volatiles. This result underlines the importance of the identification of these compounds and their role assessment alone or combined, as for their effect on wireworms. Such compounds could be used in IPM strategies. [less ▲]

Volatile organic compounds of the roots of barley and their role in the rhizosphere

Poster (2011, May 24)

Volatile organic compounds emitted by plants are known to intervene with various biotic environmental factors. Up to now, most of the studies have been focused on aerial volatiles and root liquid exudates ... [more ▼]

Volatile organic compounds emitted by plants are known to intervene with various biotic environmental factors. Up to now, most of the studies have been focused on aerial volatiles and root liquid exudates. Very few researches have been completed concerning belowground volatiles released into the rhizosphere despite their potential capacity to carry information between organisms. The Rhizovol project, started in autumn 2010, involves 5 different units of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech collectively studying the production of belowground volatiles by barley roots underlying various biotic interactions in the rhizosphere. Some preliminary results of each partner of the project will be presented. To achieve this goal, analytical methods allowing the sampling, separation, identification and quantification of belowground volatile compounds have to be developed, taking into account their potential modifications in the rhizosphere once released by the roots. They enable the subsequent characterization and study of the interactions between barley and its rhizospheric partners chosen for this study. These interactions imply three types of organisms: beneficial organisms, pathogenic agents and plant and insect pests. Beneficial organisms can promote the growth of barley by the emission of volatiles; on the other hand barley can support their growth and metabolism. These phenomenons will be assessed by the study of 19 strains of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR). Three pathogenic agents - two fungi (Fusarium culmorum and Cochliobolus sativus) and one virus (Barley yellow dwarf virus) - were chosen as they are known to cause various diseases on barley, especially on roots. The attractive or repellent effects of barley root volatiles on the pathogenic agents or their vectors, as well as the effect of volatiles on the diseases evolution will be evaluated. The project also includes several types of pests such as plants and insects. Plants can compete with barley for space and nutrients through volatile interactions. This will be assessed by the study of autotoxicity by barley itself and allelopathy with 8 weeds and a hemiparasitic plant (Rhinanthus minor). The effects of barley volatiles can also impact the severity of the attacks by insects. This part will be conducted with wireworms as they represent worldwide known pests, and aphids, through their viral vector role. Eventually, as soil characteristics can strongly influence the diffusion of volatile compounds, the diffusion behaviour of the identified volatile biomolecules through the soil will be modelled. Tritrophic interactions (e.g. insect-plant-pathogenic fungi) will be studied based on each bitrophic interaction results. Over-all, the Rhizovol project aims at improving the knowledge of interactions mediated by volatile compounds in the rhizosphere and at establishing new biocontrol methods that could contribute to integrated disease and pest management systems. [less ▲]

Volatile organic compounds of the barley rhizosphere and their roles in biotic interactions with plant growth- promoting bacteria, phytopathogens and insect pests

Poster (2011, April 04)

L'Alimentation des Populations locales de Madagascar productrices de Vers à Soie

Master's dissertation (2010)

On the Malagasy High-Lands, the tapia forests (Uapaca bojeri Baillon Ŕ Euphorbiaceae) shelter wild silk moths of the genus Borocera (Lepidoptera : Lasiocampidae), the landibe. Besides the silk it produces ... [more ▼]

On the Malagasy High-Lands, the tapia forests (Uapaca bojeri Baillon Ŕ Euphorbiaceae) shelter wild silk moths of the genus Borocera (Lepidoptera : Lasiocampidae), the landibe. Besides the silk it produces, the landibe also provides food as local populations often eat the chrysalis. The resource is depressed, because of the numerous human and environmental pressures under which it is, as the tapia forests recede. The present research takes part in the Gevabo project (Management and development of the endemic silk moth Borocera cajani). Resulting from a French-speaking Belgian university cooperation, this project is aimed at evaluating the opportunities that could lead to the increase of the landibe populations. At the crossroads of multiple disciplines such as entomology, environment conservation, rural economy and socio-anthropology, solving strategies for a better management of the resource and its ecosystem are considered. On the one hand, an inventory protocol involving a night light trap was established in purpose to determine the degree of impact of the local forests management on the landibe populations. On the other hand, wild edible products from the tapia forests were studied by interviewing local villagers. Eaten insects, spiders, mushrooms and plants (fruit and other anatomic parts) were described according to the following characteristics : harvest, consumption habits, cooking modes, commercial practices and state of the resource in the surroundings. The establishment of amino acids and fatty acids profiles was undertaken on several resources in purpose to define their contribution in the local usual food diet. During the inventory sessions, the landibe did not appear in spite of our presence on the field at the right time. Our investigations allowed the discovery of many wild edible resources, or ethnospecies : thirteen insects (five of which belong to the Lepidoptera order), one spider, twenty-five mushrooms and eleven plants. The alimentary profile analysis of the spider, two caterpillars, as well as four dried mushrooms allowed comparing them to rice, basic crop of the research area. Many of those resources are commercialised. Thus, we can provide clear guidelines for further investigations to lead within the project, based on the information we gathered concerning wild edible resources. [less ▲]