Biological alternatives to pesticides to control wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Most studies on plant-insect interactions focus on the aboveground parts of plants, but the knowledge regarding the belowground interactions is increasing. Soil pests are at least equally dangerous to plant health and elicit plant defense mechanisms as well. Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are common polyphagous soil pests of various crops, including economically relevant crops such as maize and potatoes. Their management with pesticides is often not successful or sustainable, and more research on biological alternatives is required. We aim at providing an overview of biological control methods under development or commercially available. Little is known about the natural enemies of wireworms, and the available work is often limited to laboratory experiments. The interest for using using microorganisms as biocontrol agent is increasing, and entomopathogenic fungi, nematodes, and bacteria represent promising alternatives to pesticides. The review discusses the combination of attractive semiochemicals with biological agents to improve wireworm monitoring and control, as well as research advances on these fronts.