Behavioural Responses of Wireworms (Agriotes lineatus and Agriotes litigiosus) to Natural Substances, Synthetic Volatile Organic Compounds and Entomopathogenic Fungi

Wireworms are important agricultural soil pests that damage major crops such as maize, wheat, potatoes, sugarcane and lettuce by feeding on roots and tubers. Their underground mobility and attraction to carbon dioxide emitted by plant roots, as well as other root volatiles and exudates, make management efforts difficult. Traditional agronomic strategies and insecticides provide some control. Nevertheless, the environmental and health risks associated with insecticides have d iven toward sustainable practices under the EU Directive 2009/128/EC, which made Integrated Pest Management (IPM) mandatory. Natural substances (NS), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) offer promising environmentally friendly alternatives. This study examines wireworm behaviour and responses to various substances, including two types of compost tea; three synthetic VOCs: 3 octanone, pentylfuran, and octen; and four EPF strains: Metarhizium brunneum (strains 1868 and 1154), Metarhizium robertsii (strain 2693), and Beauveria bassiana (strain 2121). Wireworm behaviour was studied using rhizotron and soil olfactometer methods under controlled conditions. Our findings reveal that compost tea can either attract or repel wireworms, while 3-octanone and Metarhizium brunneum showed a slight repellence and behavioural change. The results show potential of these alternatives to contribute to sustainable pest control strategies. However, further field studies are required to confirm their efficacy and practical applications in IPM.