Wireworms, beans, peas, and squash question
I have some wireworms in my soil. I don't think I have a ton, because the veggies are still growing, and my carrot traps aren't catching very many (I've only caught six, and those in only about 30% of the traps set). So hopefully they aren't being too pesky to the roots of my veg. But here is my question. Some sites are saying they won't attack legumes, but others are saying they will. Some also are saying they won't attack squash. So what's the true story? I was thinking that if they don't like squash then I would just plant that area with squash next year (currently my peas and beans are in that bed). Thoughts? Legitimate info?
I'm also wondering how best to eradicate the pests that are there. Would it work to just leave the bed empty for a year or something and starve them out? And what of the adults? Any advice on getting rid of those so that the cycle doesn't continue?
This post was edited by jemsister on Tue, May 14, 13 at 16:51
Ive just asked a similar question! They are eating the roots of my lettuce and a couple of herbs, but always the smaller ones.
They are the larvae of click beetles as far as ive found out online and can live for years in the soil before becoming adults. The adults dont cause as much damage as the larvae and ive not seen one yet this year.
We have click beetles *everywhere*, so I'd like to do something about them as well as the worms. Yesterday I checked my traps and found five worms on one carrot. I was not happy. Well, I was happy about the fact that they're dead now (squish), but I wasn't happy to find so many there. I found probably eight altogether checking all my traps, and that was only a day or two after checking them last time. (I should point out the fact that my "garden" is just a hobby garden. I planted a narrow flower bed and one raised bed that I made from an old dresser. So eight worms in what is roughly a 14 x