Repellency of the Biopesticide, Azadirachtin, To Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) (Report‪)‬

Wireworms are important insect pests of Florida sugarcane. Of the different wireworm species found in Florida sugarcane, Melanotus communis (Gyllenhal) is the most important pest (Cherry 2007). Hall (1985) noted that M. communis damaged sugarcane by feeding on root primordia, buds, and roots as well as directly on the stem of young plants. Hall (1990) later reported that tillering during the growing season compensated for early stand losses due to wireworm damage. Wireworms are primarily a pest in newly planted sugarcane although the insects are also found in ratoon sugarcane. Phytochemicals have been used for many years to control insect pest damage on agricultural crops (Lee et al. 1997). Plants produce a wide range of secondary metabolites (e.g., terpenoids, alkaloids, and phenolics) that often possess insecticidal, fungicidal, bactericidal, antiviral, anti-feeding, or growth retardant properties (Singh et al. 1989; Benner 1993; Wilson et al. 1997).