Taking the damaging bite from hungry wireworms

A new seed treatment is engineered to induce rapid insect mortality.

“One of the issues with cereals is that we don’t have many chemical options to control and reduce wireworm populations,” said Arash Rashed, Associate Professor of Ecological Entomology at the University of Idaho.

Wireworms are a serious concern, causing substantial crop damage across the Pacific Northwest. Many stages of wireworm larvae are active in the field as they progress into a pupae and adult click beetles. And the populations expand exponentially: Two adult click beetles in year one grow to more than 200 adults and 1,000 wireworms by year three. In fact, growers can face a loss of more than 50% of seedlings, and those that survive may be stunted, further reducing yield in a field already taking a big hit. Aaron Esser, Extension Agronomist from Washington State University Extension, states, “I’ve seen wireworms where we had from 40% to 100% crop loss.”

Getting wireworms “drunk” isn’t the best answer.

The leading treatment today — neonicotinoid treated seeds — only results in the intoxication of the wireworm. This “drunk” effect can protect initial stand establishment and seedling development but the lack of direct mortality allows the larval development and life cycle progression to continue, leading to population growth and continued crop damage.

“Growers need a new way to reduce wireworm populations,” says Rashed.

For the 2021 growing season, BASF anticipates having a more effective way to stop wireworms.

A new mode of action for an old problem.

Broflanilide, the active ingredient in Teraxxa™ seed treatment and Teraxxa F4 seed treatment, is a new class of chemistry: Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) Mode of Action Group 30.  This innovation delivers a new mode of action  to protect against wireworms, with a direct effect on mortality.

Trials show it to be highly effective with rapid wireworm mortality on contact across all species and life stages. Its fast knock down and mortality effect make it the top performer in extensive trials.

In fact, field studies* have shown 80–90% reduction in  end-of-season resident wireworms from the beginning of the season. It’s convenient for growers, with low use rates and multiple formulations. And it’s an effective rotation partner for insecticide resistance management and customized seed treatment mixes, with fungicides or other insecticides.

“In my mind, this is one of the most exciting developments in wireworm control,” stated Esser. “I really think Teraxxa is going to be a valuable tool for farmers in the Pacific Northwest.”

With the addition of these two innovations, BASF will be offering a complete seed treatment lineup in cereals to battle pest and disease threats.

To learn more about Teraxxa seed treatment and Teraxxa F4 seed treatment, reach out to your local BASF representative.

*Data collected from 2-year wireworm field trials conducted by Washington State University.

Always read and follow label instructions. Teraxxa products are not registered and not available for sale. This article is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to promote the sale of these products. Any sale of these products after registration is obtained shall be based solely on the EPA approved product label, and any claims regarding product safety and efficacy shall be addressed solely by the label. Teraxxa is a trademark of BASF. © 2020 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division

With a rapidly growing population, the world is increasingly dependent on our ability to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture and healthy environments. Working with farmers, agricultural professionals, pest management experts and others, it is our role to help make this possible. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline and broad portfolio, including seeds and traits, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we connect innovative thinking and down-to-earth action to create real world ideas that work – for farmers, society and the planet. In 2019, our division generated sales of €7.8 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 18,800 employees in North America and had sales of $18.4 billion in 2019.  For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 117,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2019. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.