title: Occurrence ofAgrioteswireworms in Austrian agricultural land.
abstract: Agrioteswireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are abundant soil-dwelling herbivores which can inflict considerable damage to field crops. In Europe up to 40 species occur, differing in their ecology and pest status. Their distribution in the larval stage, however, has rarely been assessed because of the considerable effort in collecting wireworms and the difficulties in identifying them to species-level. Here, we examined the occurrence ofAgrioteswireworms in Austrian agricultural land with regard to their association with climatic and soil parameters. Using a molecular identification system, 1348 field-collected larvae from 85 sites were identified to species-level. Three species,Agriotes obscurus,Agriotes brevis,Agriotes ustulatus, and two that could not be discerned molecularly (Agriotes lineatusandAgriotes proximus), were assigned to two ecological groups: (i)A.brevis/A. ustulatus, found in areas with a warmer, drier climate and alkaline soils, and (ii)A. obscurus/A. lineatus/proximuswhich occur mainly at higher altitude characterised by lower temperatures, higher precipitation and acidic, humus-rich soils.Agriotes sputatorwas abundant throughout Austria, confirming its euryoecious nature. Only one larva ofAgriotes litigiosuswas found, prohibiting further analysis. These data contribute to a characterisation of species-specific traits inAgrioteslarvae in agricultural land, an important prerequisite to develop efficient control strategies for these wireworms.
authors: Mountain Agriculture Research Unit, Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Staudacher
authors: Nikolaus
authors: N
authors: Schallhart
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Pitterl
authors: Corinna
authors: C
authors: Wallinger
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Brunner
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Landl
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Kromp
authors: Johann
authors: J
authors: Glauninger
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Traugott
keywords: Adrastus spp.; Climatic factors; Elateridae; Molecular identification; Pest control; pH