Einsatz von Pheromonfallen zum Monitoring von Schnellkäfern (Agriotes spp.) in Vorfrüchten zu Kartoffeln

Summary

The infestation of potatoes with wireworms is also in organic farms an increasing problem. The percentage of marketable potatoes is clearly reduced by the grub of wireworms. The grading is much more time-consuming and the produce is sometimes not saleable. In consequence the profitability of potato production is at risk. A monitoring of the occurrence of click beetles (Agriotes spp.) is possible with pheromone traps. First results of the year 2004 showed a very high occurrence of A. lineatus (2148 click beetles per trap) in clover grass (prec-crop to potatoes) on an organically managed farm in Northern Germany. The occurrence of A. obscurus was much lower with 257 click beetles per trap. The experiments should be continued over the next years in consideration of different sites and other pre-crops.