• Perennial grass-clover leys promote wireworms. For this reason, a perennial cultivation of grass-clover ley should be avoided if there is any indication of wireworm infestation.
• After ploughing the meadows or the perennial grass-clover ley, wait until the third or, if possible, even fourth year to plant susceptible crops like potatoes, carrots, onions or salad.
• In general, a diverse crop rotation promotes various beneficial organisms and lowers the infestation of wireworms.
• No cultivation of potatoes in strongly affected areas!
• Rye, fodder radish and vetch are a possible green manure for overwintering. A low infestation of wireworms was observed in crop rotations with peas and lupines.
• The cultivation of legumes (peas, field beans, bush beans) and Brassicas (white cabbage, fodder radish, mustards) can reduce damage from wireworms.
• Grain legumes but also cereals are ideal preceding crops for potatoes.
• Keep the soil moist whilst allowing the potatoes to mature.
• Harvest the potatoes on time because the longer the tubers are in the soil, the more risk of an infestation increases
• Control couch grass (Elymus repens) because its roots can promote the metamorphosis of the wireworm larvae
