Abundance and Spatial Distribution of Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in Florida Sugarcane Fields on Muck Versus Sandy Soils (Report‪)‬

ABSTRACT Wireworms are important insect pests of Florida sugarcane. Our objective was to determine the abundance and spatial distribution of wireworms in Florida sugarcane on muck versus sandy soils. Fourteen commercial sugarcane fields were sampled for wireworms on farms in southern Florida. Melanotus communis (Gyllenhal) was the most abundant wireworm found in both soil types. Other less abundant wireworms found and discussed are Conoderus spp., Ischiodontus sp., and Glyphonyx bimarginatus Schaeffer. There were no significant differences in densities of G. bimarginatus, M. communis, or total wireworms of all species in muck versus sand fields. Significantly more Conoderus spp. were found in sandy fields and significantly more Ischiodontus sp. were found in muck fields. The spatial distribution of the wireworms within fields was similar in both soil types. In muck, wireworms in 4 fields were randomly distributed, aggregated in 3 fields, and uniformly distributed in no fields. In sand, wireworms in 3 fields were randomly distributed, aggregated in 4 fields and uniformly distributed in no fields.