Flight Activity of Melanotus communis (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in Florida Sugar Cane Fields

Abstract

Several parameters of flight activity of the wireworm Melanotus communis (Gyllenhal), were measured in Florida sugar cane fields using blacklight traps. Seasonal flight activity of M. communis was greatest during May and June, with 88% of the annual total being caught during this period. Total number of eggs found in dissected females was greatest in June, indicating that June is probably the month of maximum oviposition. Significantly more M. communis were caught from sugar cane fields on muck soils than sugar cane fields on sandy soils.M. communis adults flew throughout the night and adult catches decreased with increasing trap height aboveground.