Wireworms in potatoes: alternative control methods

This document examines wireworms—larvae of click beetles—as pests in potato cultivation, focusing on their damage to crops and the use of entomopathogenic fungi, particularly Metarhizium brunneum, as a biological control alternative. Wireworms cause significant economic losses in potatoes, carrots, onions, and other crops by feeding on tubers and roots. The document highlights the seasonal activity of wireworms in Austrian soils and evaluates the efficacy of Metarhizium brunneum strains in laboratory trials, emphasizing their potential as sustainable pest management solutions.