Growers Being Sought For Wireworm Survey In Soils Cropping Potatoes

The SAC Potatoes team are conducting a survey of wireworm species present across key growing areas of Scotland under the Plant Health Centre project: PHC2024/04: Understanding the risk to Scotland’s plant health arising from wireworm (click beetles) and the monitoring and Integrated Pest Management requirements.  

Under this project we are looking for growers who have experienced wireworm in their fields before and/or have fields they believe to be at a higher risk for wireworm.  

We are proposing that trapping occurs across the 2025 season in two sections: Bait trapping for wireworm larvae (approx. late march- April) and Pheromone trapping for the adult male beetle (approx. Late April-July). Bait traps consist of a seed blend bait ball being planted for a 10–14-day period in unplanted soil. The root ball and surrounding soil will then be assessed for wireworm presence. Pheromone traps are placed in a growing crop with checking weekly to collect species present.  

Two bait traps and three pheromone traps would be placed in 2-3 fields per grower. It should be noted that although preferred, not all fields included per grower require previous wireworm presence. Potatoes in the field rotation are required however there doesn’t need to be potatoes being planted in that field in the 2025 season. Fields that are adjacent to those with previous wireworm populations or other risk factors such as multiple cereals and/or grass in rotation, proximity to water source e.g. burn, river, or reservoir, long term grass in recent history, use of regenerative practices such as cover crops, minimum tillage, or flower strips are also applicable 

 As participants you will receive:  

• Trapping guidance document  

• Individual consultancy  

• Access to data  

• Integrated pest management documentation  

Action required from participants:  

• Ability to empty pheromone trap 1x per week (it is possible that consultants from certain SAC local area offices may be able to assist with trap collections during busy periods of the growing season)  

• Permission for SAC Potatoes team members to visit trap sites unaccompanied  

• Participation in post-project survey  

• Approval for data collected throughout the project to be shared publicly. (Data includes location at a regional level and trap results. Identifying information e.g. grower and associated business names will be anonymised)  

Who is responsible for the data collected in this study?  

Dr Kerry Leslie is the principal investigator on this project and the named individual who will oversee data collection. Wider members of the SAC Potatoes Team will have access to this data when assisting with data management and handling (Dr Kyran Maloney, Gavin Prentice, Verena Schmidt, and Heather Bruce). Information from the project will only be published at an aggregate level and individual businesses will not be identified. This project is funded by the Plant Health Centre so data may be shared internally with named individuals on the panel overseeing this project (Dr Fiona Burnett, Dr Fiona Highet, Dr Maciej Kaczmarek, Dr Sonia Humphris) however they will not be sent copies of the data.  

What data is being collected?  

Your contact details as provided and test field location data will be collected and held, as well as results from the wireworm tests conducted. Field location data will be used for analysis but not in final published outputs of the project. Identifying contact information of participant and their associated businesses will be anonymised after analysis, and you are free to withdraw at any time. Data will be collected by direct correspondence with members of the SAC Potatoes Team (listed above). Data will be held internally by SAC Consulting/SRUC for the duration of the project (Nov 2024 – Nov 2025). After project completion identifying information gathered shall be anonymised.  

In volunteering to be part of the wireworm trapping portion of this project opinions and comments about the process will be collected on an ongoing basis when a consultant is present at the field site. Participation in the damage sample survey and post-trapping survey will be gathered by a member of the SAC Potatoes Team over the phone, in-person, or via email depending on what is most convenient for the participant.  

What are the risks/benefits of being part of this study?  

If there are any perceived risks to reputation by participants their identifying information can be anonymised at any time via contact with the SAC Potatoes Team via Potato@sruc.ac.uk. Benefits of participation include receiving the results on wireworm status from tests submitted from your business, early access to documents produced as part of this project and associated consultancy time surrounding wireworm management from the SAC Potatoes team.  

Who is funding this research?  

The Plant Health Centre, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA  

Phone: 01382 568 905, Email: info@planthealthcentre.scot  

Will I receive any payment or monetary benefits?  

No, participation in this project is voluntary.  

What are your rights as a participant?  

Taking part in the study is voluntary. You may choose not to take part or subsequently cease participation at any time.  

Personal information relating to participants in research will be stored securely and treatment of data will comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018. Please follow this link for details about the protection of the rights and freedoms of individuals with respect to the processing of their personal data: https://www.sruc.ac.uk/connect/about-sruc/policies-compliance/compliance/privacy-notice-gdpr-cookies/#commitment  

What if I have concerns about this research?  

If you are worried about this research, or if you are concerned about how it is being conducted, you can contact info@planthealthcentre.scot