What insect's larvae are called 'wireworms' and are agricultural pests?

The larvae of click beetles are called wireworms, and many species are serious agricultural pests. They are elongated, hard-bodied larvae that live mainly in soil, where they feed on seeds, roots, tubers, and decaying plant material.

Click beetles belong to the family Elateridae. Their adult name comes from the distinctive clicking mechanism that lets them flex a spine-like structure and launch themselves into the air when overturned. The larvae, however, are the stage most important to farmers. Depending on the species, they may remain underground for one to four years before pupating.

Wireworms can damage crops including potatoes, maize, wheat, sugar beet, sunflower, strawberries, and vegetables. Their subterranean lifestyle makes them difficult to detect and control, and a single larva may injure several plants as it moves through the soil. Crop rotation, bait traps, soil cultivation, and carefully targeted treatments are among the management methods used.

A common mix-up is confusing wireworms with mealworms or leatherjackets. Mealworms are beetle larvae too, but they are usually associated with darkling beetles and stored products; “wireworm” specifically refers to larvae of click beetles.