As part of the Enigma series of research projects, Fera scientists have reportedly made a breakthrough with wireworm, highlighting where and when the pest is expected to pose the highest risk.
The Enigma I project, led by Fera Science and supported by the industry, suggests that the pest will become more prevalent in northern areas of the UK, and at higher elevations.
Dr Andrew Crowe, senior spatial data scientist, says that rising soil temperatures, driven by climate change, are creating a more hospitable environment.
“Following thorough identification processes, including DNA barcoding, we’ve been able to produce maps that show the current geographic ranges of the five wireworm species of most concern to growers across the UK.
“Building on this, we’ve also modelled the wireworm activity to predict how these geographic ranges are likely to evolve between now and 2040, as soil temperatures rise, due to climate change.
“We’ve been able to forecast where the pest could become an issue for farmers in the future, and which species they need to look out for.”
Using lab cultures and field samples, scientists have also investigated the lifecycle of wireworms and how this alters at different temperatures.
“These insights have enabled us to model wireworm populations throughout the year, informing on-farm risk assessments, and filling significant gaps in knowledge – as much of our knowledge on wireworm populations comes from just after the Second World War,” Andrew says.
“As a result, we’re providing our partners, such as Syngenta and G’s Growers, with vital, up-to-date information on where and when to target sustainable pest control methods to be most effective at protecting crops.”
Enigma I will be completed in February 2025, at which point the project will move onto a second phase steered by industry partners.
“Incorporating data from the first project, we now plan to build a bespoke risk assessment for each project partner based on crop type, crop rotation, location and other risk factors, alongside a suite of actions and options to reduce wireworm populations.
“We will also investigate the effects of cover crop mixes funded through the SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) scheme on wireworm development, and test a small selection of non-chemical control agents for the pest.”
For more information go to www.fera.co.uk
