Wire Worms infest a garden

What's a gardener to do?

5/11/2023

Alexa, the farm manager of Goosefoot Farm in Chimacum, contacted the WSU Extension Regional Small Farms Program using the technical assistance feature on the Regional Small Farms Program website to request help managing significant flea beetle and wireworm problems in their fields.

Wireworms (click beetle larvae) have compromised growing of potatoes and sweet potatoes in two Food Bank gardens. Today we examined traps from sites where root crops were grown last year. Wireworm research from WSU Extension helped as we worked under the guidance of Master Gardener/Garden Manager, Lys Burden.

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Traps previously baited with soaked corn were dug.

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Trap recovered

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Data sheet. Our team of three counted over 100 larvae.

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About 1/2 inch long.

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Looking up how to treat wireworms

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Traps were marked with red tags.

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Counted larvae were dispatched with alcohol.

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The table is set up.

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While five of us worked on the wireworm project, three reparied and prepped for additional fencing. Four others weeded, watered and planted. Those will be sweet peas at the end of thepea rows.

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And the garden is growing!

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