Wireworm (Coleoptera, Elateridae) risk factors within potato cultivation

Abstract

Invisible damage caused by the wireworm up to the time of harvesting make it one of the most feared pests, especially in potato cultivation. As there is no curative management possible, the only way to fight against it is preventively. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to examine which factors make the risk of wireworm attacks more prevalent. This study aims to get a better understanding of risk of wireworm attacks within potato cultivation and a better understanding of potato producer views about wireworm management. Two types of enquiries were combined within the same survey: one about technical aspects and the other one about social aspects of the problem. They were completed by going in situ meeting farmers. Information collected was processed using statistical tools: MCA, PCA, and HCPC analyses. The technical part was analyzed within seven themes: previous crops, interculture, wireworm damage, supply of organic matter, plot environment, chemical use, and mechanical passes. The social part was analyzed using the three first steps of the ARDI method: Actor, Resource, and Dynamic.