Click beetles (Coleopter: Elateridae) associated with potatoes in Alaska

Authors: Pantoja, Alberto; Hagerty, Aaron; Emmert, Susan

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/29/2008
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: In the United States and Canada, wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are important pests of vegetables, small grains, and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.). In Alaska, wireworm damage to potato has been noted as early as 1949. However, there is no consensus of the importance of the group or the species composition affecting agricultural crops in Alaska. In spite of the reported economic importance of the group, published information on the elaterid fauna of Alaska is quite limited. Fifty-three elaterid species are known from Alaska; however, available reports does not provide habitat information or crop associations. The majority of the information regarding the distribution and ecology of Alaskan species is scattered among regional reports and taxonomic works and not all reports specify locality data or host plant associations. This work reports on species composition, seasonal biology, and geographic distribution of adult elaterids associated with potato production in Alaska. Elaterids were collected from fairbanks, Delta Junction, Palmer, and from a subsistence farm above the arctic circle in Wiseman. Twelve species from ten genera were collected including three of the six most economically important genera in terms of potato production in the USA (i.e., Ctenicera, Hypnoidus, and Limonius). Ninety-seven percent of the specimens collected belong to two genera, Hypnoidus (59.9%) and Limonius (36.1%). Forty-eight percent of the specimens were collected from the Palmer area, 37% from Fairbanks, and 14% from Delta Junction. Only one specimen of A. rufiventris and four of H. bicolor were collected from the subsistence farm in Wiseman. To our knowledge, this is the first long term report on population dynamics of elaterids in potatoes in Alaska. This is the first time elaterids have been shown associated with potatoes in Delta Junction and Wiseman. This study provides information on species composition, seasonality, and a framework for adult sampling.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this research was to study the species composition, seasonal biology, and geographic distribution of adult elaterids associated with potato production in Alaska. Adult elaterids were collected in the major potato producing areas of Alaska and from a subsistence farm above the arctic circle in Wiseman. Twelve species from ten genera were collected including three of the six most economically important genera in terms of potato production in the USA (i.e., Ctenicera, Hypnoidus, and Limonius). Ninety-seven percent of the specimens collected belong to two genera, Hypnoidus (59.9%) and Limonius (36.1%). Forty-eight percent of the specimens were collected from the Palmer area, 37% from Fairbanks, and 14% from Delta Junction. Only one specimen of A. rufiventris and four of H. bicolor were collected from the subsistence farm in Wiseman. To our knowledge, this is the first long term report on population dynamics of elaterids in potatoes in Alaska. This is the first time elaterids have been shown associated with potatoes in Delta Junction and Wiseman. This study provides information on species composition, seasonality, and a framework for adult sampling.